
MAJOR GENERAL PHILIP K SHERIDAN. 



ELUSTRATED LIFE, CAMPAIGNS 



AND PUBLIC SERVICES OF 



PHILIP H. SHERIDAN. 

(MAJOE-GENEEAL SHEEIDAN.) 



THE 



Hero of the " Shenandoali Valley," " Battle of Pive Forks," etc. 



BT 0. W. DEIsTISOK 



With a full history of his Life. Battles and Campaigns. With a 
Portrait of General Sheridan, and other illustrative engra- 
vings of the "Battles in the Shenandoah Valley," " Battle of Five 
Forks," " Sheridan's Ride to the Front," at Winchester, etc. 



PHILADELPHIA 

T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, 
306 CHESTNUT STREET. 







■' f 



Eiiterwl, according tn Act of Ci)i,-Tf<.-i. in tlio yonr 1^05, \>y 

T. H. PETKt:S)X & nr.OTTlLRS, 

In the Clerk's Oflice of tlie Di.<tiict Court of thu (hiito-l Stntes, in atjfl for lh<i 
Eiwterii I)istri<.-t df i'ciiDsylviiiua. 



% 



^ 






PREFACE. 



« • • • » 



The accompanying pages have been compiled 
from authentic materials. 

It is the object of the writer to do justice to the 
distinguished American general, whose signal services 
in the field have awakened such enthusiasm among our 
countrymen. To accomplish this, the strictest care 
has been observed with reference to authorities. No 
statement is made in this volume that is not in every 

respect attested by the facts. 

C. W. D. 

PniLADELPHiA, December Sth, 1865. 
21 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 
General Sheridan's Early History 25 

CHAPTER II. 
Enters Active Service 29 

CHAPTER III. 
First Battles 32 

CHAPTER IV. * 

Western Battles 39 

CHAPTER V. 
Chattanooga 43 

CHAPTER YI. 
Personal Sketch of General Sheridan, by one of his Staff. • 46 

CHAPTER VII. 
Sheridan in Tennessee 51 

CHAPTER VIII. 

General Sheridan in Virginia «•• 56 

23 



24 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IX. 

PAOB 

At Fort Powhatan and Petersburg 69 

CHAPTER X. 

Last Campaign in the Shenandoah — The Advance — Affair 
at Newtown — The Advance continued — Battle of Crooked 
Run — Affairs at Summit Point — Fisher's Hill — Port 
Republic — Official Despatches from General Sheridan 
and others — Congratulation to the Cavalry — Battle of 
Cedar Creek — Arrival of General Sheridan — The tide 
turned — Sheridan's Ride, by Thomas Buchanan Read — 
Characteristic Despatch from General Sheridan — Com- 
ments on General Sheridan — Congratulatory Order — 
The Devastation of the Yalley — Sheridan as a Gun- 
Taker .* 71-121 

CHAPTER XI. 

The Great Virginia Raid — March to Lynchburg — Official 
Despatches from General Sheridan — Official Despatches 
from the Secretary of War — Raid toward Richmond — 
Report from General Sheridan 122-141 

CHAPTER XIL 

Sheridan's part in the fall of the Rebel Capital — The Battle 
of Five Forks — Fall of Richmond and Petersburg — Offi- 
cial Report of General Sheridan — Sheridan's Instructions 
to General Warren — Rebel Flags Captured — Summary 
of Cavalry Captures in the Shenandoah Valley 142-173 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Testimony to the Value of American Cavalry 174 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Conclusion — Cavalry Sheridan, by George H. Boker, 
Esq 192-197 



THE LIFE AND SERVICES 

OP 

GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 



» >■ ^ ■> » 



CHAPTER I. 

HIS EAELY HISTORY. 

Philip Henry Sheridan was born in Massachusetts, 
in the year 1831. His parents, as might be inferred from 
the name, are of Irish descent. While Philip was yet 
a child, they removed from Massachusetts to Perry 
county, Ohio. Their circumstances compelled them to 
limit his opportunities for acquiring an education. The 
lad might be seen, at this time, driving a water-cart, and 
earning his own living, in the town of Zanesville. It 
was here he first attracted the attention of the then 
member of Congress for that district. By the aid of an 
elder brother, who was possessed of some political influ- 
ence in that quarter, he was so commended to the confi- 
dence of the Congressman, that, in the year 1848, he was 
admitted as a United States cadet at West Point military 
academy. 

In June, 1853, he graduated, and immediately received 
his appointment as brevet second lieutenant in the First 
United States infantry. In the fall of the same year he 
joined his company at Fort Duncan, on the Texas 
frontier. 

He was now twenty-two years of age. At the time 

25 



26 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

of which we write, the Indians were engaged in active 
hostilities against the United States. So efficiently did 
Sheridan perform his duties at this post, that he was 
soon promoted to full second-lieutenant in the Fourth 
United States infantry, and transferred to the frontiers 
of Oregon. During the months of May and June, while 
on his way to Oregon, he was placed in command of a 
detachment of United States troops, stationed at Fort 
Wood, in the harbor of New York. In the ensuing July 
he set sail for San Francisco, California, in charge of a 
considerable number of recruits for the Pacific division 
of the army. 

On arriving in Oregon, he was given the command of 
an escort for the exploring expedition of Lieutenant 
Wilkinson, at that time engaged in making a survey of 
the proposed route for a branch of the Pacific railroad 
between San Francisco and Columbia river, on the Oregon 
coast. In this expedition there Was an efficient corps of 
scientific gentlemen, employed for the purpose by the 
United States Government. By being introduced to 
their society, and mingling with them in their explora- 
tions from day to day, Sheridan was favored with oppor- 
tunities for acquiring much valuable information. That 
the expedition was a useful one, is attested by the reports 
published by order of Congress, and that Lieutenant 
Sheridan performed his duties well, is proved by the 
official communications of Lieutenant Wilkinson. He was 
publicly commended for his conduct on this occasion in 
all the reports submitted to Congress. 

In the fall of the year 1855, Sheridan was ordered to 
join a detachment of dragoons, under Major Raines, 
stationed at Vancouver, Washington Territory. From 
this point an expedition moved against the Yokima 
Indians. At the Cascades of the Columbia, on the 28th 
of April, 1856, the young lieutenant discharged his duty 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 27 

'' SO well during an engagement with these Indians, that. 
his conduct was especially commended in general orders. 

In the month of May following he was made com- 
mander of the department embracing the Yokima Reserva- 
tion, including that section of the mountain coast range, 
and received the commendation of the government for 
soldierly conduct. 

It will be borne in mind that a peculiar fitness is re- 
quired for the command of these military posts among the 
hostile Indian tribes. To do well in such a command is 
a good indication for any young officer. Such was the 
success of Sheridan. He who can succeed in controlling 
fighting savages among the fastnesses of the Dalles of the 
Columbia, may reasonably be expected to triumph any- 
where, and among the most dangerous foes of our 
country. 

During his command in this wild and unfrequented 
region, Sheridan evinced his military talents by his whole 
course, and, especially, by his selection of a military post 
for the United States in the valley of the Seletz. For 
this selection, as well as for his general course in tho 
Yokima country, he was publicly commended by the 
brave old chieftain, Lieutenant-General Scott. His con- 
duct in the settlement of serious difficulties with the 
Yokima Bay tribes was in the highest degree meritorious, 
and was so mentioned in the official documents. 

One distinct feature of military character which early 
distinguished Sheridan, and which continues to mark his 
course as an officer of the army, is his strict obedience to 
orders. He at once saw the necessity of this course, 
stationed at a distance from his chief department, sur- 
rounded by wily foes, and held personally responsible for 
the men and effects committed to his care. It is this that 
has given such efficiency to his subsequent movements, 
and that has led him to hold his own subordinates, how- 



28 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

ever prominent and eflQcient, to the same strict account 
to which he has always himself submitted. 

Receiving the approbation of his superiors for his 
general conduct on the Indian frontier, and especially for 
his skill and good judgment in the establishment of 
another military post at Yamhill, he was promoted to the 
captaincy of the thirteenth United States infantry, in 
March, 1861, and was stationed at Jefferson barracks, 
Missouri, in the fall of that year. 

At this post he became a member of a special military 
commission, appointed to audit certain claims growing 
out of the occupation of Missouri by a portion of the 
United States army. Of this commission, as Captain 
Sheridan, he was made president, and acted with skill 
and efficiency in that capacity, receiving the commenda- 
tion of the national War Department. 

At the close of the year 1861 he was appointed chief 
quartermaster and commissary of the army of the 
Southwest. This was rapid promotion for the young 
soldier, but it was not more rapid than he had fairly 
earned. 

Sheridan was well fitted for quartermaster and com- 
missary. While all admitted him to be neat in person, 
courteous in demeanor, affable in conversation, exact in 
business relations, strict in orders, regulations and estab- 
lished military customs, he proved himself to possess 
the requisite vital energy and force essential to success. 

Very few men in the army can make a first class 
quartermaster and commissary. They may be said to be 
almost as scarce as that select portion of society who are 
supposed to "know how to keep a hotel." Something 
of this feature in the character of Sheridan may be 
judged by the fact that he soon became, and ever 
after remained when in that department, a master 



LIFE OF MAJOK-GEiVETiAL SHERIDAX. 29 

quartermaster, and a necessary commissary. He had 
no superior in his difiBcult and responsible position. 

In May, 186|, he was stationed at Corinth, Mississippi, 
as chief quartermaster and commissary on the staff of 
General Halleck, having shown, by his experience in his 
calling, by his devotion to details, by his skill and tact, 
how well he was fitted for the post. 



CHAPTER II. 

ENTERS ACTIVE SERVICE. 

On the 2Yth of May, 1862, Captain Sheridan was ap- 
pointed colonel of the body of United States troops known 
as the second Michigan cavalry. It was here that he 
began his distinguished career as a cavalry officer. He 
took this position for active service at a time when the 
army of the Southwest had already distinguished itself by 
the brilliant victories of Keetsville, Pea Ridge, Sugar 
Creek, Cross Hollows, and on many another well-fought 
field through the country of northern and central Ar- 
kansas. 

But it was everywhere admitted in the army that the 
cavalry arm needed to be strengthened. In all the battles 
we had thus far fought, the southern cavalry had done 
comparatively well. It was more numerous, more expe- 
rienced, and better drilled than our own. The men of the 
south were not more brave than ours. That we had abun- 
dantly proved in every engagement. But the southern 
horse, as a body, were far more accustomed to the saddle, 
and to all the evolutions of cavalry. It might be said of 
the Southron, especially him of Virginia, Kentucky, Ten- 



30 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

nessee, Texas, and other parts of the southwest, that he 
was born on horseback, booted, spurred and armed for 
battle. He was familiar with every mountain pass and 
gorge, every defile and summit, every by-path and wooded 
copse, where infantry and artillery would be at fault, and 
where cavalry would fight to advantage. The southern 
cavalrymnn had been accustomed to the sudden and fiery 
charge, the leap from the hidden hill-side, the dash 
through the dark and narrow valley, the secret deploy 
among tangled ferns and thick-set chapparals, until he 
came to look on the feat of surprising our undisciplined 
infantr}'- as a matter of course, and of surrounding our 
artillery as a necessary consequence of superior advantage 
in position, numbers and speed. 

As the war progressed, in its earlier stages, it became 
the constant boast of the southern leaders that the troops 
of the United States could not and would not withstand 
their cavalry. Stuart, Fitz Hugh Lee, Hampton, and 
other names of some of these leaders, soon became the 
synonyms of all that was alert, dashing, courageous and 
successful. 

The great majority of the Union commanders, on the 
other hand, gradually came to admit the practical effect 
of these facts, until it was almost generally under- 
stood that they were not satisfied with their cavalry. 
There were local and individual exceptions, of course — ex- 
ceptions that were all the more honorable to the Union 
service because they were necessarily so rare— but the 
great conviction of the army and the country was fixed 
and strong that our cavalry needed to be much improved 
ere it could accomplish all that was needed to secure the 
final victory. 

It is at this critical moment that Sheridan appears on 
the field of active duty. As we enter with him on hia 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". oi 

brilliant career, we may glance at the peculiarities of char- 
acter which distinguish him as a great commander. 

His genial and attractive qualities endeared him, at the 
outset, to his fellow officers and soldiers. All his subor- 
dinates unite to bear witness to his superior social quali- 
ties, while his men have ever looked on him with deep 
affection. He had the happy faculty of mingling what 
was due to official respect with kindly courtesy, so that 
strict discipline and personal geniality secured prompt 
and cheerful obedience to orders. It was his custom to 
give his personal attention to the minute details of his 
position, and, while doing so, to impart valuable informa- 
tion to those who sought it at his hands. His just pride 
in all that relates to military discipline was never allowed 
to interfere with the courtesies due from the well-bred 
gentleman. Hence his wide-spread and long-continued 
popularity in the Union army. 

At the time of which we now write the movements of 
the troops under General Curtis required great skill and 
energy in the quartermaster's department. These were 
found to be abundantly supplied in Sheridan. In the 
establishment of army depots, the organization of trans- 
portation trains, the supply of food and materiel for the 
army in motion, he was equal to any emergency. With 
General Halleck, at Corinth, the same valuable qualities 
of character were developed in Sheridan, conferring bene- 
fits on the then comparatively inexperienced army of the 
Southwest, that were not only felt through that depart- 
ment, but, to a certain extent, through all the armies of 
the Republic. 



32 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 



CHAPTER III. 

FIRST BATTLES. 

In the month of July, 1861, Sheridan won his brigadier's 
star. It was in the hard-fought action of Booneville. 
In less than six weeks from the time he was made a colo- 
nel of cavalry, he was placed in command of the second 
brigade of the cavalry division of the army of the Mis- 
sissippi. While stationed at Booneville he was suddenly 
attacked by the rebel General Chalmers, at the head of 
over five thousand picked southern cavalrymen. 

The rebels confidently advanced, with all the eclat of 
position upon them, and with all the elan of assured suc- 
cess. Sheridan's force consisted only of his own regiment 
"^v^ and the second Iowa cavalry. With this small but de- 
termined body of men he skirmished with the rebels, until 
they were checked, and taught, for almost the first time 
in their cavalry history, that it was one thing to advance 
with a dash and quite another to win the final victory. 
They were held for some time in check by Sheridan, on 
the edge of a deep swamp, where he occupied an advan- 
tageous position. From this point, by a movement of 
strategy that at once developed his character, he deployed 
a detachment of his men to the rear of the rebels, and took 
them completely by surprise. They supposed, from the 
manner of the charge of Sheridan's men, that they must 
be backed up by a large reserve force, and fell back in 
confusion. At the same moment Sheridan attacked their 
front in person in his most impetuous style, rolling them 
up in the utmost disorder along the whole line. Stricken 
with dismay the enemy fled from the field, running as fast 
as their horses would carry them a distance of twenty^ 



LIFE OF MAJOR- GENERAL SHEKIDAN. 33 

miles, and leaving arms, equipments, clothing and other 
trophies of war scattered along the route. 

This was one of the first actions of the war in which the 
boasted charm of the southern cavalry was broken. It 
was a most fitting occasion for which to confer on Sheridaix 
the well-earned title of brigadier-general. He at once 
began to attract public attention. His personal appear- 
ance began to fill the eyes of his countrymen. His 
stature is small — not more than five feet six inches. His 
chest is broad and compact ; his muscles are firm and 
active ; his face is open and singularly expressive ; his 
brow is comparatively broad and high ; his eyes are dark, 
clear, quick in motion ; his head long and well-balanced, 
and covered with a full crop of curling black hair. 

Such is Cavalry Sheridan. 

At the time of his entrance on his celebrated career as a 
cavalry commander, he was well aware of the difficulties 
that surrounded the cavalry arm of the service. How well 
he has done his part in removing those difficulties, and to 
what distinctions he has helped to raise the patriot 
horsemen of our country, the pages of this volume abun- 
dantly prove. 

While on service at Booneville, Sheridan turned his 
quartermaster facilities to good account, by capturing a 
considerable number of the horses and cattle of the rebels. 
In this vicinity, at a place called Ricuzi, he was attacked 
by the enemy's cavalry, under Colonel Faulkner, and de- 
feated them, making several valuable captures, and 
driving the remnant in great disorder as far as the town of 
Ripley. 

On the tth of September he was ordered to proceed 
with the second Michigan cavalry, and report to the army 
in Kentucky. He reached Louisville in a short time, and 
was sooD put in command of the third division of the 
army of the Ohio, composed, at that time, of ten regiments 



34 LIFE OF MAJOH-GKNERAL SHERIDAN. 

of infantry, ODo of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery. 
The country througli which they marched bears to this 
day the evidence of the valor with which these troops of 
Sheridan defended it. The enemy was close at hand, 
under tikilful and determined generals. Surprises were 
constantly expected, on every side. The numerous rifle- 
pits and embankments thrown up in this quarter, abun- 
dantl}^ attest to the vigilance with which Sheridan 
guarded his new trust, and the courage with which he de- 
fended the rights of the people of the great west. 

In this campaign Sheridan accompanied Buell in the 
march against Bragg. He was then transferred to the 
command of the eleventh division of the army of the 
Ohio, which embraced a larger body of cavalry than the 
second. At Perryville he was assigned a still more im- 
portant position. Hardee, Leydell, and other rebel gen- 
erals, were actively engaged in the vicinity, having 
attacked our troops on the heights of Doctor's creek and 
been repulsed by Sheridan. On the afternoon of the 
8th of October, another attack was made on his position 
by a strong force under Hardee. The conflict was stern 
and long-continued ; but the valor and dash of Sheridan 
triumphed, although assailed by a combined and furious 
body of artillery, cavalry and infantry. The infantry re- 
sorted to the bayonet, and charged up the hill with that 
short curt yell peculiar at one time to the rebels. They 
evidently counted on a certain and splendid success. But 
they were mistaken. Sheridan drove them back, at all 
points, and scattered them from their batteries with such 
havoc that they left large numbers of dead and wounded 
on the field. Our own losses w^ere severe ; proving to al> 
engaged, and to the countiy at large, that the war wai 
assuming a definite shape that could not be misunderstood, 
and demanding sacrifices worthy of the name and destiny 
of the Republic. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 35 

The battle of Perrjville added new lustre to the fame 
of Sheridan. He was retained in active positions, and 
marched with the army through Kentucky, to Nashville, 
Tennessee. At this point, in November, 1861, he was 
placed in command of a division of the army of the 
Cumberland. 

On the advance to Murfreesborough, Tennessee, Decem- 
ber 26th, General Sheridan commanded the division of 
the brave and lamented Major-Greneral McCook. It was 
near this point the celebrated battle of Stone river occur- 
red, in which Sheridan bore so distinguished a part. The 
details of this significant conflict have passed into history. 
On the report of it by the Secretary of War, General 
Sheridan was nominated by President Lincoln as Major- 
General, and confirmed by the Senate. 

When we contemplate the eminence which General 
Sheridan has so soon reached, we are reminded of some 
of the striking incidents of his early history. The per- 
sonal inspiration which seems to spring from his presence 
on the field of battle, may be naturally traced back to the 
belligerency of his youth. A graphic sketch of him in 
Harpers^ Monthly for August, 1865, describes him as born 
a belligerent. He is of the same stock of ancestry from 
whom have descended the Andrew Jacksons and Andrew 
Johnsons of our own times. At West Point, he is accu- 
rately described as "the best-natured and most bellige- 
rent" cadet in the academy. It is stated on good authority 
that one of his instructors, in order to secure his gradua- 
tion, employed the argument that a belligerent tempera- 
ment was not a fault in a soldier ! And this is said to 
have secured the young fighter the needed approval of 
the West Point board of instructors. Gentlemen who 
were themselves educated as soldiers, could not refuse 
graduating honors to a worthy youth on the ground of his 

belligerency. 
2 




86 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

The first captaincy of Sheridan was in the regiment 
then commanded by General Sherman. This regiment 
was stationed in 1861 at Jefferaon Barracks, Missouri, to 
which point Sheridan was ordered. He was thus intro- 
duced to the army of the trans-Mississippi, or of the 
, Southwest, and first saw active service in the Union war 
under its colors. This army had gone through a campaign 
under the brilliant and lamented General Lyon ; had made 
preparations for another under General Fremont; and at 
the time of the arrival of Sheridan, was commanded by 
General Halleck. The organizing talents of the young 
captain were at once called into requisition. He was of 
great service to General Curtis, who was then in active 
command of the troops in the field. 

In the year 1862, the noble qualities of Sheridan were 
brought out by his opposition to the then frequent practice 
of "Jay-hawking," or privately plundering the enemy. 
He deliberately exposed himself to arrest and censure, 
and submitted to be removed from his command in that 
quarter and transferred to another, rather than sanction a 
custom which every high-minded regular must condemn. 
General Halleck sympathized with Sheridan in these 
honorable sentiments, and on his entrance to his depart- 
ment at once made him the chief quartermaster, and 
placed him in an active position on his staff. 

The arrest of Sheridan for refusing to be a " Jay- 
hawker," is deemed to be one of the prominent turning- 
points in his signal career. His manly course in that 
respect not only transferred him to a new and more con- 
genial field, but it created an impression respecting his 
fighting qualities among the men, that his subsequent 
history has abundantly illustrated. 

His transfer from the regular to the volunteer service, 
from the infantry to the cavalry arm, was sudden ; but it 
was the first step in a new path that has proved to be the 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 37 

successful one of his military journey. His ambition was 
at once inspired by his being so rapidly promoted. He 
had looked forward to being a major of infantry, after 
years of hard service; and now, at the very advent of 
his mission, he is honored with the eagles as a colonel of 
cavalry. We shall see, as we progress with his wonder- 
fully active life, how well he responded to this call of the 
inspiration of patriotic ambition. All the best powers of 
his belligerent, dashing, adventurous nature were at once 
called forth, and found full play in the achievements of 
the Union horse. 

The attack on Beauregard at Corinth, led by Sheridan, 
in the spring of 1862, was the first movement on the 
enemy in the nature of a raid. It was completely suc- 
cessful. It at once gave a new impulse to the growing 
cavalry arm. The eclat that had clustered around the 
southern cavalry began almost immediately to appear to 
a disadvantage, in comparison with the superior dash and 
courage evinced by Sheridan and his compeers. Morgan, 
Stuart, and other rebel cavalry commanders of their 
character, had attracted public attention by their wild 
forays ; but they had all proved to be attacks on defence- 
less points, and among a people where they were almost 
sure not to be resisted. It was an easy thing for these 
chivalric braves to attack peaceful villages, and the quiet 
midnight retreats of plantations. Victory Avas of course 
always sure in such cases ; but it was equally sure to be 
bloodless and inglorious. 

The assaults of Sheridan on the lines of the enemy 
were of an entirely different character. He went out 
from camp expecting to meet an armed foe ; to encounter 
ambuscades from wily horsemen, mounted and ready for 
battle, — not to make hurried descents on unresisting 
farmers, and valorous dashes for plunder through the 
bovine barricades of sleeping cattle, or the lattice-work 



88 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

files of fowls, roosted en harhette. By his bold and 
courageous course, at the outset of his career, Sheridan 
did much toward establishing the high character so 
bravely won and so well sustained by the Union cavalry. 

But the peculiar position of our horse, at the opening 
of the great war for the Union, was not confined to the 
west. It was admitted to be nearly the same every- 
where. In a well- written volume by Surgeon James 
Moore, U. S. A., entitled " Kilpatrick and Our Caval- 
ry," there is a valuable collection of historical facts on 
this subject. As early in the war as August, 1862, 
special efforts were made by Kilpatrick, Bayard, Gregg, 
Pleasanton, Custer, Farnsworth, and other cavalry offi- 
cers, aided by General Hooker, who believed in cavalry, 
to re-organize, concentrate, and make more efficient this 
now powerful arm, of the service. Under the impulse of 
these well-timed movements, the cavalry corps of the 
arm}^ of the Potomac was formed, and General Stoneman 
appointed its commander. The subsequent movements 
of this force, under Kilpatrick, Pleasanton, Gregg, Bayard, 
and others, have attracted well-deserved attention, and 
covered the eastern cavalry with honor. The victory of 
Kilpatrick over Stuart, at Hanover, Pennsylvania, again 
on the mountains of Monterey, and the noble cavalry 
achievements on the bloody and glorious field of Gettys- 
burg, will ever be kept in grateful remembrance by our 
patriotic countrymen. Nor will they ever forget the work 
done by the cavalry under General Sherman, nor the 
names of the brave commanders who led them through 
those fields of glory — from Yicksburg to Chattanooga, from 
Chattanooga to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Savannah, from 
Savannah to Charleston from Charleston to Richmond. 



LIFE OF MAJOK-GENEKAL SHERIDAN. 39 

CHAPTER lY. 

WESTERN BATTLES. 

The determined character of Sheridan was early mani- 
fested at the head of his troops. Accustomed to obey 
superior orders himself, he was determined to enforce 
similar obedience on those he commanded. 

While in camp at Bridgeport, Alabama, in 1863, Gen- 
eral George H. Thomas accompanied him in an official 
examination of his works at that place. " At one of the 
way stations," says the writer of the spirited sketch of 
Sheridan in Harper^s Monthly, " the train halted for an 
unusually long time, and Sheridan, on asking the conduc- 
tor, a great burly six-footer, the reason, met with a some- 
what gruff reply. Sheridan contented himself with re- 
proving his manner, and ordered him to proceed with 
the train. The conductor did not reply, and failed to 
obey. After waiting some time longer, Sheridan sent for 
the conductor, and demanded to know why he had not 
obeyed. The conductor answered in a gruff manner, that 
he received his orders from the military superintendent 
only. Without giving him time to finish the insultin,g reply 
Sheridan struck him several rapid blows, kicked him from 
the cars into the hands of a guard, and then ordered the 
train forward, acting as conductor on the down and return 
trip. After starting his train he returned to his seat by 
the side of General Thomas, and, without referring to 
the subject, resumed his conversation wnth that dignified 
officer." 

These are some of the characteristics of the man whose 
career we are truthfully depicting in these pages. Small 
in stature — so small that his men have been accustomed 



4:0 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

to call bim "Little Phil." — he possesses much physical 
energy, and all the other qualities of a first-class fighting 
general. Mounted, sword in hand, in the charge and 
smoke of battle, his stature is forgotten ; and you can see 
only the dashing cavalryman, who, every inch a soldier, 
and all his inches gathered up and fixed together with 
their utmost power, is determined to know nothing but 
his country and victory. 

The devotion of General Sheridan to his cavalry is 
extraordinary. He has on several occasions been placed 
in command of portions of the army composed exclusively 
of infantry, and he has always handled them well. But 
he has frequently asserted that, while he does not dispar- 
age in the least any other arm, cavalry is his forte. 

At the battle of Dandridge, Tennessee, in January 1864, 
a characteristic incident occurred, that illustrates this 
peculiarity. Colonel (now General) Jordan was in com- 
mand of a division of cavalry. The enemy was advan- 
cing from a thick undergrowth, with a large body of infan- 
try and artillery. The shells were flying thick and fast, 
and the battle had begun to rage with considerable vigor. 
Jordan, after having driven the enemy, had drawn up a 
body of his troopers around him, on a commanding hill, 
prepared for another charge at the appropriate moment. 

He did not have to wait long. Just as he was prepa- 
ring for a dash forward, and his bugles were about 
swelling their brazen throats with " Charge !" Sheridan 
rode rapidly up the brow of the hill, 

" How is this, Colonel Jordan ?" he inquired. " Where 
are the enemy ?" 

" Close at hand, General Sheridan," promptly replied 
Jordan. 

" But I do not hear any bullets !" continued Sheridan, 
checking his horse, who appeared to be, like his master, 
impatient of delay. • 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GEXERAL SHERIDAX. 41 

He had hardly ceased speaking when the long lines of 
the enemy swept across the intervening spjice, and the 
loud-mouthed trumpets sounded the charge. In an in- 
stant the whole body of troopers dashed impetuously 
forward, Sheridan himself in the very front. The rebels 
met with such a shock as they advanced that they reeled 
and staggered back in broken squadrons all over the 
field. They were completely demoralized. A captured 
rebel ofl&cer afterwards expressed it, when asked 

" What else could you expect ?" 

" We didn't expect to be rode over in that way I" 

As the charge sounded over the roar of battle, and the 
troopers dashed on after the enemy, the enthusiasm knew 
no bounds. Sweeping, like a man on a winged steed, to 
the front, Sheridan shouted ; " Come on I boys, come on I 
now's the day, and now's the hour 1" 

The voice was a strange one to Jordan's men ; but they 
felt there was the right ring in it ; they saw Jordan him- 
self by the side of Sheridan, dashing with him into the 
thickest of the fight ; and not a man of them stopped in 
his onward and upward career, until the gorge and adja- 
cent hill-side were completely cleared of the enemy. 

As they paused a moment, being aware of the proximity 
of a still larger rebel force, Sheridan reined in his fiery 
steed, who, with curved neck, and foaming mouth, champ- 
ing teeth, and pawing feet, had become, like his rider, the 
impersonation of battle, and turning toward Jordan, he 
exclaimed : 

" Bless my soul ! I thought I belonged again to the 
cavalry ! I have forgotten all about my infantry ! Excuse 
me. Colonel Jordan. I must hurry back to my command." 

So saying, with a good-natured smile and a military 
bow, he withdrew. But the remembrance of his sudden 
appearance in that charge, his quick response, uncalled, 
to the bugle, and his shout ** Come on, boys ! come on I" 



42 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

will never be forgotten by any one who saw and heard 
Sheridan that memorable day. 

It is such incidents of battle as these that show the 
steady progress made by the cavalry of the United States. 
Many similar incidents are depicted in the career of OQr 
general, who has well been called "Cavalry Sheridan." 

As we look back for only three years, we can scarcely 
realize the results attained by our cavalry. In the month 
of December, 1861, the cavalry arm was considered by 
the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, 
as " too expensive" to be continued at its then rate of 
numbers. We had at that time an army of one hundred 
and fifty thousand men, of whom less than fifteen thousand 
were cavalry. It was the written and recorded opinion 
of our prominent generals of that period, that even that 
small number was too large. It was generally considered 
that the regular cavalry — embracing, as a whole, less than 
five thousand — would be amply sufficient for all army pur- 
poses. They would be fully competent to act as advanced 
and rear guards, to deploy in casual raids for necessary 
provisions, to serve as couriers for the infantry and artil- 
lery. To fight with an army composed to any great ex- 
tent of cavalry was never dreamed of for a moment. 

What a change has been wrought in our estimation of 
cavalry within the short compass of three years ! The re- 
port of tli'^ ?5pcretary of War for the year 1862, states the 
number oi uur forces then in the field to be, six hundred 
and seventy thousand. The several arms of the service 
were distributed as follows : 

Volunteers. Regulars. Aggregate. 

Infantry 557,208 11,175 568,383 

Cavalry 54,654 4,744 59,398 

Artillery 20,380 4,308 24,688 

Kifles and Sharp-shooters 8,325 • 8,325 

Engineers 107 107 

Total 640,637 " 20,334 660,971 



LIFE OF MAJOR- GE2TERAL SHERIDAN. 43 

From this time forward, to the close of the war, there 
was a steady increase of the fighting cavalry force. 
Where all have done so well comparisons are out of place ; 
bat it is not too much for history to record that some of 
the most powerful of the blows that terminated the rebel- 
lion were administered by the Union cavalry. 

It is on these accounts that the name of Sheridan has 
acquired such brilliancy. We are not to consider him as 
a dashing young cavalry ofi&cer, plunging out of camp 
here and there in some desperate and daring raid upon the 
powerful and wily enemy, but as a distinguished, practised, 
skilful commander of cavalry among other cavalry officers 
of our country who have won high distinctions by their 
chivalric deeds. 

From a little band of a few thousands of comparatively 
untried horse, our cavalry had become, at the close of our 
great national struggle, the most numerous and most 
powerful body of the kind among all the armies of the 
earth. The facts reported in these pages, show how 
much of this great result may be truly attributed to the 
patriotism, tact and valor of Philip Henry Sheridan. 



4 * • » P 



CHAPTER V. 

CHATTANOOGA. 

In the opening cavalry career of General Sheridan at 
the west, the great feature of his movements was energy. 
His clearly-defined purpose was to show how it was to be 
done, in strongly-marked contrast with the commanders 
who were evidently bent on showing how not to do it. 
His opinion, as written by the point of his gabre on his 



41 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

newly-won stars was that of Ward, the naval hero, who 
fell so early at the bloody attack on Mathias Point : 

" This is not a mere political canvass. It is a real war 
• — and somebody must be hurt." 

Ward was cut down, in almost the first battle that he 
fought, covered with honor in defending his country's 
flag — a brave officer, a devoted child of the navy, and one 
of our most scientific naval commanders. But Sheridan, 
equally brave, dashing and talented, has lived on to 
achieve military greatness, as he has nobly aided to rid 
his country of her deadliest foes. Among the mountain- 
passes and plains of the west his determined onsets on 
the enemies of the Republic showed him, at the very out- 
set of his career, to be terribh^ in earnest. 

A writer accompanying Rosecrans through the dark 
and stormy battle-gorges of Stone river, asserts that the 
dashing gallantry of Sheridan turned the tide of war on 
that occasion. When he drew out his decimated troops 
from the thickest cedars of the mountains near Chicka- 
mauga, and brought them into line before his commanding 
general, his only remark was — 

" Here we are, general ! all that is left of us I Our guns 
and our cartridge-boxes are all empty !" 

The rapidity with which he pursued the enemy, after 
this desperate battle, and during the ensuing Tullahoma 
campaign, is described by one who was present as parta- 
king of a wild energy that carried every thing before it. 
His men were swept irresistibly onward by the impetu- 
osity of their leader. So rapid was the march, that when 
he reached the bridge at Bridgeport, on the Tennessee, 
just in time to prevent it from being destroyed by the 
rebel incendiaries, the enemy supposed him to be at the 
head of a body of our cavalry ! 

"Some of the rear-guard of the retreating rebel anny 
were sitting on the bridge as Sheridan dashed up; 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHEIilDAN. 45 

" Put out that fire !" he shouted to his troops nearest 
the smoking and blazing wood-work. " W§ want the 
bridge ! Put out the fire !" 

" Who are you ?" asked the rebels, in astonishment. 

" United States infantry, under Sheridan 1" replied the 
soldier nearest to the questioner. 

" Hi !" continued the rebel, still more surprised, 
" Sheridan's men I We thought you belonged to Stan- 
ley's troopers I" 

It was in the terrific assault of Chattanooga, in Novem- 
ber, 1863, that the great soldierly qualities of Sheridan 
made one of their earliest displays. Here he first drew 
the attention of General Grant, on the field — a man who 
has proved himself to be one of the best judges of his asso- 
ciates of any commander history has overproduced. The 
assault and conquest of the point at Chattanooga called 
Missionary Ridge, must ever be regarded as one of the 
most brilliant achievements of the whole war. It stands 
out by, itself as a mountain charge of terrible valor. 

The men of Sheridan had been kept on the hill-sides, 
and at the base of old Lookout, during an interval of sus- 
pense, embracing thirty-six consecutive hours. Few men 
have ever had their patience and endurance tried as were 
theirs on that day. At length the expected signal came. 
The booming cannon sounded from the headquarters of 
Grant. How quickly the troopers under Sheridan sprang 
forward ! They did not wait for the flash of the second gun, 
but dashed up the steep mountain sides, as if leaping for- 
ward in play. 

The cross-fire of the enemy poured down like a tide of 
flame from the ramparts above ; but still the men of Sheri- 
dan pressed up, up, up, toward the lofty summits of the 
ridge. He was at their head, waving his sword, and call- 
ing on every man to follow him. There was no resisting 
his burning appeals. Twenty rebel batteries were at that 



46 LIFE OF MAJOK-GENERAL SHERIDAIT. 

moment belching their fiery torrents down upon them ; but 
up they strode, through the openings of frowning cliffs and 
the tangled roots and branches of the gorges, with charge 
after charge, carrying every thing before them. 

Near the highest peak his horse was shot dead under 
him ; but h3 sprang from the petted animal, and, drawn 
sword in hand, continued the fight on foot. He was 
among the first of the victors who reached the conquered 
parapets ; and as he mounted them, and swung his sword 
in triumph, his own cheers mingled with those of his 
heroic men as they rang aloud in the upper air, and swept 
down the mountain to the plains below. 

The warm praises of General Grant were freely given 
to Sheridan for this noble deed. It has been deemed the 
turning point in his upward career, as establishing his 
capacity as a leader of men beyond all question. As 
such it was evident Grant regarded him that day ; and 
events have proved that he has held him in equally high 
estimation ever since. 

It was not long after the glorious feat of Chattanooga 
that Sheridan was placed in command of all the cavalry, 
under General Grant, in the noble army of the Potomac. 



CHAPTER YL 



PERSONAL SKETCH OF GENERAL SHERIDAN BY ONE OF HIS 

STAFF. 

'We are indebted to Major Alfred R. Calhoun, formerly 
of the Kentucky cavalfy, for the annexed sketch of General 
Sheridan : 

"I first saw Sheridan at Corinth Mississippi, where 



LIFE OF MAJOR- GEXERAL SHERIDAN". 47 

he was then acting chief quartermaster, on the staff of 
General Halleck. There was certainly nothing in the 
physique of the man to denote the spirit within which 
was designed to make him the greatest cavalry leader 
of his age. He was a mild-looking, unassuming man, 
with a quiet, satisfied air about him, that gave him the 
appearance of any thing but an aspiring man. But 
under that lamb-like exterior there was hidden the lion's 
spirit, and the darkgrajje^e which beamed so kindly 
when at ease, would often, to the astonishment of those 
he was brought in contact with, turn like a living coal, 
and his smooth tongue would grow harsh with vehement 
interjections, that showed Sheridan had reduced invectives 
to a fine art. No man would willingly wish to rouse the 
little quartermaster's anger. 

" During the siege of Corinth, an incident occurred which 
served to illustrate this combative disposition, while at 
the same time it showed a thorough kindliness of heart. 
A train laden with supplies was pushing up from Pitts- 
burg Landing to the front ; the road was very rough, and 
the warm sun and heavy loads so fatigued the animals 
that a lead mule of one train fell down exhausted. The 
heartless driver descended from his seat and beat the poor 
dying animal cruelly, using the most fearful oaths. Sheri- 
dan came up, and seeing the state of affairs, called out to 
the driver to desist. The latter looked up, and seeing 
the unassuming man who ordered him, in a fierce tone 
yelled back : 

"'Stand back I or I will wallop you worse than the 
mule.' 

" That was enough. Quick as the bound of a tiger, 
Sheridan was off his horse, and with a ringing blow he 
felled the burly driver ; then taking the whip used to 
beat the mule, he gave the crestfallen Jehu a castigation 
he will remember while he lives. 



48 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

" My first experience in raiding was under Colonel 
Elliott, who commanded a brigade in which Sheridan had 
charge of the second Michigan cavalry. We started to 
go round Corinth and sever the railroad leading south 
from Corinth. We met a large body of rebel cavalry 
near Boonesville, among them Wharton's Texas Rangers. 
Hitherto the rebels had laughed at our horsemen and 
cavalry leaders ; but they felt a blow there which stag- 
gered them, and which, repeated at another point by the 
same hand, wound up the rebellion. 

" During the fight, the second Michigan, which was 
fighting dismounted, was very much annoyed by a 
howitzer battery stationed near a piece of woods, and 
supported by the famous eighth Texas, on their fiery 
mustangs. It chafed the spirit of the little colonel, who 
was dashing backward and forward, his face beaming with 
the wild anger of battle, and a perfect deluge of oaths 
going out against the enemy. 

"At length the order was given to fall back. The 
buo-le sounded, 'Boots and saddles I' and the second 
Michigan were mounted. The line was formed, and all 
sat ready for the next move. 

« ' Forward !' came the order, and at a trot they moved 
on, Sheridan galloping along the line, as if to let out his 
anger and nervous energy. 

" At last the bugle sounded, ' Draw sabres ! — Charge I' 
Then Sheridan became the personification of every thing 
soldierly. Gazing on the long line of gleaming swords, 
his own leaped from its scabbard, and spurring his horse 
full fifty yards in advance of the line, sent up a 3^ell which 
thrilled his men ; and, in the face of a fearful fire, they 
swept over the battery and cut down the gunners, then 
into the midst of the eighth Texas. • 

" Not a shot was fired, but sabres rose and fell with 
crimson flashes ; and where the fray was thickest, there 



LIFE OF MAJOR- GE>rERAL SHERIDAN. 49 

Sheridan struck, yelling out all the time, ' Down with the 
black fiends ! Pour it into them, my boys ! Push them 
down ! God curse them I Crush them down !' 

" And Sheridan's boys did ; for the defeated prairie 
riders scattered in every direction. 

" As they were fleeing Sheridan singled out a powerful 
rider, who had shown us a bold front and started in pur- 
suit. The Texan, seeing he could not escape, turned sud- 
denly and fired at the advancing Yankee ; then closed for 
a struggle. But it was momentary ; by a dexterous move- 
ment Sheridan brought his horse to the left of his antago- 
nist, his sword flashed for an instant and the next the 
rebel fell, covered with blood and brains — while Sheridan, 
leading a horse, galloped back, 'mid the hurrahs of the 
command. 

" Sheridan, were it not for his unvarying good luck, 
would be called the most reckless of men. He exposes 
himself without apparent necessity ; but the boys like it 
— and his presence under fire is always sure to create the 
greatest enthusiasm amongst the men. 

'' At Perryville, where Sheridan commanded a division 
of infantry, we were very warmly pressed by the enemy 
under Bragg, who outnumbered us two to one. 

" It was very warm, and our men suffered for water. 
There was a small stream between the contending armies, 
which could be used by neither while the present positions 
were maintained. Slowly the rebels pushed our whole 
line back, gaining possession of the stream. The men were 
fainting by hundreds under the scorching sun, and the 
horses were panting beside the blistering guns. 

" ' I can't stand this !' cried Sheridan. 

*' An aid galloped off with a message, and soon returned, 
when Sheridan became himself again, for he was ordered 
to advance, which they did with a cheer which sent the 
enemy flying before a bayonet was used ; but on getting 



50 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

to the stream, it was found muddy and bloody. Jumping 
from his horse Sheridan scooped out a hole with his sword 
and took a long drink. Then looking around with a 
whimsical expression, he addressed an aid : 

" ' Captain C, I feel very mean ; I believe I have a little 
rebel blood in me !' 

" Sheridan's influence on his men was never more thor- 
oughly tried than at Stone River. Kosecrans used to 
call him his ' Little Napoleon,' and in that terrific fight 
he proved himself so to be. The nature of the ground 
was such that every soldier seemed to fight on his own 
responsibility. Owing to the sudden attack on McCook, 
Sheridan's division was subjected to a terrible cross fire 
from an overwhelming force of the enemy. It was forced 
into a small forest of stunted cedars, and nearly one half 
of the command had fallen, but the fate of the army of 
the Cumberland depended on Sheridan's holding his 
ground, and well he did it. His horse was killed ; but 
on foot he ran from point to point till remounted, encour- 
aging his men, swearing at stragglers, and calling down 
vengeance on ' the rebel hounds.' 

" ' Had Sheridan been omnipotent then,' I heard an 
officer since say, ' there would be very few rebels left to 
take the oath of allegiance !' 

" By his gallantry on that field of carnage Sheridan won 
the respect of every officer, and he became the pet of 
every private, who never grew tired cheering ' Little 
Phil.' 

" Perhaps Sheridan's reckless daring shone more con- 
spicuously at Missionary Kidge than in any other battle of 
the war." 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 51 

CHAPTER YII. 

SHERIDAN IN TENNESSEE. 

The Union victories in Tennessee were among the first 
events of the war to give an early prominence to Gen- 
eral Sheridan. It was at this time, in the fall of 1863, 
that he first attracted tne favorable notice of General 
Grant. 

Our great victory in the battle, near Chattanooga, is 
thus officially described by one of the most efficient officers 
of the United States army : 

" Headquarters, Chattanooga, Nov. 26, 1863. 
"Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 

" Sir : — On the 23d instant, at 11-|- a.m., General Grant 
ordered a demonstration against Missionary Ridge, to de- 
velop the force holding it. The troops marched out, 
formed in order, and advanced in line of battle, as if on 
a parade. The rebels watched the formation and move- 
ment from their picket lines and rifle-pits, and from the 
summits of Missionary Ridge, five hundred feet above us, 
and thought it was a review and drill, so openly and 
deliberately, so regular, was it all done. 

" The line advanced, preceded by skirmishers, and at two 
o'clock P.M. reached our picket lines and opened a rattling 
volley upon the rebel pickets, who replied and ran into 
their advanced line of rifle-pits. After them went our 
skirmishers and into them, along the centre of the line of 
twenty-five thousand troops which General Thomas had 
so quickly displayed, until we opened fire. Prisoners 
assert that they thought the whole movement was a re- 
viev/ and general drill, and that it was too late to send 
to their camps for reinforcements, and that they were 
overwhelmed by force of numbers. It was a surprise in 
open daylight. 

"At three, p.m., the important advanced position of 
Orchard Knob and the lines right and left were in our pos- 
session, and arrangements were ordered for holding them 
3 



52 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

during the night. The next day, at daylight, General 
Thomas had five thousand men across the Tennessee, and 
established on its south bank, and commenced the construc- 
tion of a pontoon bridge about six miles above Chattanooga. 
The rebel steamer Dunbar was repaired at the right mo- 
ment, and rendered efi"ective aid in this crossing, carrying 
over six thousand men. By nightfall, General Thomas 
had seized the extremity of Missionary Ridge nearest 
the river, and was intrenching himself. General Howard, 
with a brigade, opened communication with him from 
Chattanooga, on the south side of the river. Skirmishing 
and cannonading continued all day on the left and centre. 
General Hooker scaled the slopes of Lookout Mountain, 
and from the valley of Lookout creek drove the rebels 
around the point. He captured some two thousand pris- 
oners, and established himself high up on the mountain 
side, in full view of Chattanooga. This raised the blockade, 
and now steamers were ordered from Bridgeport to Chat- 
tanooga. They had run only to Kelly's Ferry, whence 
ten miles of hauling over mountain roads and twice across 
tlie Tennessee on pontoon bridges brought us our sup- 
plies. 

"All night the point of Missionary Ridge on the ex- 
treme left and the side of Lookout Mountain, on the 
extreme right, blazed with the camp-fires of loyal troops: 
The day had been one of dense mists and rains, and much 
of General Hooker's battle was fought above the clouds, 
which concealed him from our view, but from which his 
musketry was heard. At nightfall the sky cleared and 
the full' moon, 'the traitor's doom,' shone upon the 
beautiful scene, until 1 a.m., w^hen twinkling sparks upon 
the mountain side showed that picket skirmishing was 
going on. Then it ceased, A brigade, sent from Chat- 
tanooga, crossed the Chattanooga creek and opened com- 
munication with Hooker. General Grant's headquarters 
during the afternoon of the 23d and the day of the 
24th, were in Wood's redoubt ; except when, in the 
course of the day, he rode along the advanced line, visit- 
ing the headquarters of the several commanders, in 
Chattanooga valley. 

"At daylight on the 25th the stars and stripes were 
descried on the peak of Lookout. The rebels had evac- 



LIFE OF MAJ0R-GE2^ERAL SHERIDAN. 53 

uated the mountain. Hooker moved to descend the moun- 
tain, and striking Missionary Ridge at the Rossville Gap, 
to sweep on both sides and on its summit. 

" The rebel troops were seen as soon as it was light 
enough, streaming regiments and brigades along the nar- 
row summit of Missionary Ridge, either concentrating on 
the right to overwhelm Sherman, or marching for the rail- 
road, and raising the siege. They had evacuated the 
valley of Chattanooga — would they abandon that of 
Chickamauga ? 

'' The twenty-pounders and four and a quarter-inch 
rifles of Wood's redoubt opened on Missionary Ridge, 
Orchard Knob sent its compliments to the ridge, which, 
with rifled Parrotts answered, and the cannonade thus 
commenced continued all day. Shot and shell screamed 
from Orchard Knob to Missionary Ridge, and from Mis- 
sionary Ridge to Orchard Knob, and from Wood's redoubt 
over the heads of Generals Grant and Thomas and their 
stafi*s, who were with us in this favorable position, from 
whence the whole battle could be seen as in an amphi- 
theatre. The headquarters were under fire all day long. 

" Cannonading and musketry were heard from General 
Sherman, and General Howard marched the eleventh 
corps to join him. General Thomas sent out skirmishers, 
who drove in the rebel pickets, and chased them into their 
intrenchments, and at the foot of Missionary Ridge, Sher- 
man made an assault against Bragg's right, intrenched on a 
high knob next to that, on which Sherman himself lay 
fortified. The assault was gallantly made. Sherman 
reached the edge of the crest, and held his ground for (it 
seemed to me) an hour, but was bloodily repulsed by 
reserves. 

"A general advance was ordered, and a strong line of 
skirmishers, followed by a deploy line of battle, some two 
miles in length. At the signal of leaden shots from the 
headquarters on Orchard Knob, the line moved rapidly 
and orderly forward. The rebel pickets discharged their 
muskets and ran into their rifle-pits. Our skirmishers 
followed on their heels. The line of battle was not far 
behind, and we saw the grey rebels swarm out of the 
ledge line of rifle-pits, in numbers which surprised us, and 
over the base of the hill. A few turned and fired their 



64 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

pieces, but the greater number collected into the many- 
roads which cross obliquely up its steep face, and went 
on to their top. Some regiments pressed on and swarmed 
up the steep' sides of the ridge, and here and there a color 
was advanced beyond the lines. The attempt appeared 
most dangerous, but the advance was supported, and the 
whole line was ordered to storm the heights, upon w^hich 
not less than forty pieces of artillery, and no one knew 
how many muskets, stood ready to slaughter the assail- 
ants. With cheers answering to cheers, the men swarmed 
upwards. They ga,thered to the point least difficult of 
ascent, and the line was broken. Color after color was 
planted on the summit, while musket and cannon vomited 
their thunder upon them, A well-directed shot from 
Orchard Knob exploded a rebel caisson on the summit, 
and the gun was seen galloping to the right, i+« driver 
lashing his horses. A party of our soldiers in ercepted 
them, and the gun was ca^ured with cheers.'. 

"A fierce musketry fight broke out to the left, w^here, 
between Thomas and Sherman, a mile or two of the ridge 
w^as still occupied by the rebels. Bragg left the house in 
w^hich he had held his headquarters, and rode to the rear 
as our troops crowded the hill on either side of him. 
General Grant proceeded to the summit, and then did we 
only know its height. Some of the captured artillery was 
put into position. Artillerists were sent for to work the 
guns. Caissons were searched for ammunition. The 
rebel log breastworks were torn to pieces and carried to 
the other side of the ridge, and used in forming barricades 
across. A strong line of infantry w^as formed in the rear 
of Baird's line, hotly engaged in a musketry contest with 
the rebels to the left, and a secure lodgment was soon 
effected. The other assault to the right of our centre 
gained the summit, and the rebels threw down their 
arms and fled. Hooker coming in favorable position, 
swept the right of the ridge and captured many pris- 
oners, 

" Bragg's remaining troops left early in the night, and 
the battle of Chattanooga, after days of manoeuvring and 
fighting, was won. The strength of the rebellion in the 
centre is broken. Burnside is relieved from danger in 
East Tennessee, Kentucky and Tennessee are rescued. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENEKAL SHERIDAN. 55 

Georgia and the southeast are threatened in the rear, and 
another victory is added to the chapter of ' Unconditional 
Surrender Grant.' 

" To-night the estimate of captures is several thousands 
of prisoners and thirty pieces of artillery. Our loss for so • 
great a victory is not severe. 

"Bragg is firing the railroad as he retreats towards 
Dalton. Sherman is in hot pursuit. 

" To-day I view the battle-field, which extends for six 
miles along Missionary Ridge and for several miles on 
Lookout Mountain. Probably not so well-directed, so 
well-ordered a battle has been delivered during the war. 
But one assault was repulsed — but that assault by calling 
to that point the rebel reserves, prevented them repulsing 
any of the others. 

"A few days since Bragg sent to General Grant a flag 
of truce, advising him that it would be prudent to remove 
non-combatants who might be still in Chattanooga. No 
reply has been returned, but the combatants having re- 
moved from this vicinity, it is probable that non-comba- 
tants can remain without imprudence. 

"M. C. Meigs, Quat^termaster- General.^' 

We insert this report entire, because it is so interesting 
and does full justice to all the brave officers and troops 
engaged, among whom history now abundantly attests 
that General Sheridan was one. 

From the winter of 1863 to the spring of 1864, no 
general movement of Union troops took place in the 
department with which General Sheridan was then con- 
nected. The advance of General Schofield against Long- 
street, of General Thomas against Johnston, and of 
Generals Sherman, Smith, and Grierson to the south of 
their respective positions, were clear indications of a more 
active field in that department. By his skilful dispo- 
sitions of his immensely increased force, Lieutenant- 
General Grant was proving himself then, as subsequent 
events have so gloriously established him, master of the 



56 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

situation. The fulness of time for General Sherida,n was 
steadily approaching. 

In March, 1864, rumors began to be afloat of a rebel 
raid into Kentucky. General Sheridan was exactly the 
man to oppose such a force. The rebel chiefs boastingly 
announced that they would ransack the country through 
its whole extent, sweeping every thing of value from the 
State, and leaving a waste behind. To accomplish this 
fell purpose the rebel force stationed at Bull Gap was fixed 
at twenty thousand strong. In the engagements which 
followed, the enemy were handsomely met by our troops ; 
and their vaunted schemes of plunder and rapine, if not 
entirely thwarted, were materially checked. 

The attention of the country was now mainly directed 
to the central field of the war in Virginia. The continual 
increase of our force in that direction was ominous of the 
settled purpose of Lieutenant-General Grant. After a large 
augmentation of the cavalry command, and an improve- 
ment of its personnel, in various ways, it was placed 
under the supreme control of General Sheridan. This 
was his first great opportunity. Victory records how 
well he fulfilled it. 



< • »♦ » 



CHAPTER VIII. 

GENERAL SHERIDAN IN VIRGINIA. 

The month of April, 1864, found the busy note of 
preparation sounding louder than ever. A new era was 
opening on the old army of the Potomac. The personal 
staff of the Lieutenant-General was materially changed. 
All extra baggage was sent to the rear. The booths of 
the sutlers were summarily closed. Detailed troops began 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 5? 

to return in large numbers, and furloughs became less 
frequent. The time for action was at hand. 

The first available line of advance for the enemy against 
Washington was by the old route of the valley of the 
Shenandoah. Our own defensive line was by the Orange 
and Alexandria railroad. These secured and held, and 
the capital of the nation was effectually defended. It 
was of the greatest importance, therefore, that the passes 
of the Shenandoah should be well guarded, and an army 
move by way of the Virginia Central railroad, from 
Aquia creek, or West Point, or Harrison's Landing, or 
along the south side of the James river. 

In the completion of this concentrated movement of 
Lieutenant-General Grant, General Sheridan bore a con- 
spicuous part. The record of the seven days of fighting, 
in the first part of May, 1864, has passed into history. 
From the fords of the Rapidan to the wastes of Stafford, 
from the forests of Spottsylvania to the passages of the 
Po ; in short, from Culpepper to Petersburg, the whole 
field is covered with the glory of the Union arms. The 
victories of Sheridan were of the same class, although 
won on adjacent fields. 

In the campaign in "Virginia, General Sheridan's first 
service was to establish crossings, during the night of 
May 3d, at Germania and Ely's fords for the rest of the 
army, which he accomplished with General Wilson's 
third division at the former point, and General Gregg's 
second division at the latter, General Torbert's first di- 
vision being for a time in the rear. Crossing on Wednes- 
day, the 4th, the usual work of reconnoissance was care- 
fully performed, Gregg's division scouring the roads in 
the vicinity of Ely's and westerly towards Fredericksburg, 
and Wilson's division doing the same service southerly 
and westerly around Germania. On Thursday, the 5th, 
the army advanced, in accordance with Grant's original plan 



58 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

of the campaign. It will be remembered that our right 
flank and the enemy's left rested on the Rapidan, or so 
nearly on the river as to be well supported there, and 
easily protected by artillery. It remained to cover our 
left, as for the enemy to cover his left, with cavalry. The 
point of meeting was in the vicinity of Todd's Tavern, 
the location of which has become memorable. The chief 
interest of the place was the fact of the crossing of 
the Brock aM Pamunkey roads at that point ; and insig- 
nificant in other respects, it now became an important 
point to hold, either in view of advance or retreat, like the 
position at Quatre Bras, and Sombreffe. 

On Thursday, the 5th, there was severe skirmishing in 
this region between the third division and Fitz Lee's 
cavalry, and our party were rapidly and continuously 
driven back. Chapman's brigade was chiefly engaged. 
The second division coming up in support, the enemy 
were in turn forced to retire, and a part of the lost ground 
recovered. Our loss was set at about forty killed and 
wounded, and as many prisoners. On Thursday, also, 
Colonel Mcintosh's brigade of the third division became 
engaged in the direction of Parker's Store, suffering a loss 
of about seventy men. 

On Friday, the 6th, while the great battle was going 
on, on the right, Stuart moved down and attacked our 
cavalry. General Torbert's first division, — now under 
command of General Merritt, General Torbert being ill, — 
held the right, and General Gregg's second division the 
left. Colonel Custer's first brigade, first division, and 
Colonel Gregg's brigade of the ^second division, received 
the chief attack, and the enemy was at last repulsed, after 
a long and varying fight. In the afternoon our cavalry 
fell back towards Aldrich's Tavern. Near this point, on 
Saturday, another severe fight occurred with Stuart, who 
seemed determined to get in our rear and at our supply 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 59 

trains, parked at Chancellorsville, or at all events, to clear 
the roads for the withdrawal of Lee's army to Spottsyl- 
vania. The fight was severe and long continued, and 
fought, like the preceding and other cavalry skirmishes 
during the week, in dense woods, the men being dis- 
mounted, and engaging with carbines. They were sup- 
ported also by hor^e batteries. We seem to have gained 
no advantage, and to have gradually removed our position 
from the region of Todd's Tavern and the road between 
that point and Parker's Store, back to Aldrich's, about 
four miles distant. Aldrich's is directly on the road 
between Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and at the 
point where the Pamunkey road debouches into the other. 
It was especially essential for the cavalry to cover Chan- 
cellorsville and Fredericksburg and the road between 
them, as well as to protect our trains and ambulances at 
both points. 

The sudden departure of Lee, however, to his defences 
on the Po, relieved our cavalry of most of their duty in 
guarding the rear. On Sunday, the third and first di- 
visions, following up the retreat of Lee, in advance of our 
infantry, came upon the enemy's rear-guard on the Brock 
road, and had a brisk skirmish with him, which, however, 
was ultimately taken off their hands by the fifth army 
corps. The remainder of Sunday was spent in preparing 
for the events of the morrow. 



THE RAID. 

It having been determined to make a raid in the enemy's 
rear, forage, rations, and ammunition were all prepared 
by Sunday night. At daylight on Monday, the 9th, the 
column moved off, Merritt's first division in advance, 
Wilson's third in the centre, and Gregg's second in the 
rear. The march was first towards Fredericksburg, but 



.60 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

when about three or four miles from the town, the column 
turned to the right on to the Fredericksburg and Childs- 
burg road, and, travelling southerly on this road, passed 
round the enemy's right flank to the south of Spottsylva- 
nia Court House towards Childsburg, at which latter 
point the advance halted. Starting thence on the same 
road, which then bears southerly a«id westerly, they 
reached and forded the North Anna river at Anderson's 
bridge, about dusk, two miles below Beaver Dam station. 
Custer's brigade of the first division at once occupied the 
station, and they were fortunate enough to overhaul a 
train of three hundred and seventy-eight of our wounded 
and prisoners, including two colonels and many other 
officers captured in the late operations, and moving " on- 
ward to Richmond." The small guard scattered, and a 
very pleasant and joyful rescue ensued. Half an hour 
more would have hurried them by railroad toward Libby 
prison. 

The command now quickly fired the trains of cars, with 
the depot of supplies, destroying two locomotives, three 
long and heavy trains, with a large quantity of bacon, 
besides meal, flour, and other supplies for Lee's army. 
Eight miles of the Virginia Central railroad, connecting 
Richmond with Gordonsville, were then destroyed. The 
ties and bridges were burned and the rails twisted so as 
to make the work effectual. While this was going on in 
advance, the rebels had got scent of the movement, and 
harassed our flank and rear in strong force. The sixth 
Ohio, in the extreme rear, was roughly handled, and 
many of them wounded and taken prisoners by a vigorous 
charge straight through their columns. The first New 
Jersey supported them, and at last the rebels were driven 
off. The column bivouacked on the North Anna, occupying 
both sides, the enemy skirmishing a little through the 
night. 



LIFE OF MAJOK-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 61 

On Tuesday morning, May 10th, the rebels began to 
shell the camp, and there being no reason for remaining, 
oui forces moved directly south, but found the enemy in 
front annoying our advance. The advance was continued, 
however, across Little river, with a short halt at Negro- 
foot. The South Anna was crossed at Ground Squirrel 
Bridge, which lies due south of Beaver Dam, and the 
bridge destroyed. The column camped near GoodalPs, 
the rebels molesting it, as before, during the night, by 
sharpshooters. 

At three o'clock on Wednesday morning. May 11th, Gen- 
eral Davies' first brigade of Gregg's second division, was 
despatched to Ashland station, seven miles to the east, on 
the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad. 
The first Massachusetts, reaching the train at daylight, 
charged through it, driving the rebel cavalry before 
them. They then fired the depot, and destroyed stores in 
considerable quantity, six miles of railroad, three culverts, 
two trestle bridges, several government buildings, a loco- 
motive and three trains of cars. On the return the regi- 
ment was assailed by a severe fire from houses in the town, 
and left about thirty men in the hands of the enemy. 

The advance, meanwhile, had pushed on, and destroyed 
track still farther along, on the same road, at Glen Allan 
station. As it approached Richmond, the column found 
its march disputed more and more stubbornly. At length 
the rebel cavalry, concentrated under General J. E. B. 
Stuart, at Yellow Tavern, attacked in force General 
Devens' brigade of Merritt's first division, our advance. 
A brisk and severe contest ensued, Custer's and Gill's 
brigades coming up in support. Wilson's division soon 
arrived and formed on the left of Merritt, and the enemy 
was driven toward Ashland. 

A force, meanwhile, moving down the Brock road, 
entered the outermost or picket defences of Richmond. 



62 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

This rebel line was taken by a gallant charge of General 
Custer, who rode at the head of his brigade. Here about 
a hundred prisoners were captured with a section^of 
artillery complete. General J. E. B. Stuart and Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Pate were mortally wounded. 

During the night of the 11th, the third division made 
some reconnoissances, around the second line of the 
enemy's works, but no further advance was attempted in 
that direction, and our force turned next morning toward 
Meadow bridge on the Chickahominy. It had been de- 
stroyed, but was rebuilt under a galling fire, and crossed 
by the first division, Devon's brigade in advance. A 
brisk fight ensued, the rebels attacking both in front and 
rear. Generals Gregg and Wilson, however, succeeded 
in repulsing them in the rear, and the bridge being rebuilt, 
our forces crossed. Mechanicsville and Coal Harbor were 
next reached, and the column encamped toward evening 
at Gaines' Mills. The march of May 13th took the 
force to Bottom's bridge, and thence the column pro- 
ceeded to Turkey Bend, and obtained supplies from Gen- 
eral Butler, four miles distant, across the river, at Haxall 
Landing. 

The ofi&cial despatch of the War Department is as fol- 
lows : 

"Washington, May 14 — 11.40 p. m. 

"An official despatch from General Sheridan, date(l 
at Bottom's bridge, via Fortress Monroe, May 13, states 
that on the 9th instant he marched around the enemy's 
right flank, and on the evening of that day, reached the 
North Anna river, without opposition. 

" During that night, he destroyed the enemy's depot at 
Beaver Dam, three large trains of cars, and one hundred 
cars, two fine locomotives, two hundred thousand pounds 
of bacon and other stores, amounting in all, to one millioB 
and a half of rebel rations ; also the telegraph and rail- 
road track for about ten miles, embracing several culverts : 
recaptured three hundred and seventy-eight of our men, 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 6'd 

including two colonels, one major and several other 
officers. 

" On the morning of the 10th, he resumed operations, 
crossing the South Anna at Grand Squirrel bridge, and 
went into camp about daylight. 

" On the 11th, he captured Ashland station, destroyed 
here one locomotive and a train of cars, an engine house, 
and two or three government buildings, containing a large 
amount of stores ; also destroyed six miles of railroad, 
embracing three culverts, two trestle bridges, and the 
telegraph wire. 

"About seven a. m., of the 11th, he resumed the march 
on Richmond. He found the rebel General Stuart with 
his cavalry concentrated at Yellow Tavern, immediately 
attacked him, and after an obstinate contest, gained pos- 
session of the Brockeltown pike, capturing two pieces of 
artillery, and driving his forces back toward Ashland 
and across the north fork of the Chickahominy. At the 
same time a party charged down the Brock road and 
captured the first line of the enemy's works around Rich- 
mond. 

" During the night he marched the whole of his com- 
mand between the first and second line of the enemy's 
works on the bluffs overlooking the line of the 'Virginia 
Central railroad and the Mechanicsville turnpike, 

"After demonstrating around the works and finding 
them very strong, he gave up the intention of assaulting, 
and determined to recross the Chickahominy at Meadow 
bridge. It had been partially destroyed by the enemy, 
but was repaired in about three hours, under a heavy 
artillery fire from a rebel battery. General Merritt made 
the crossing, attacked the enemy and drove him off hand- 
somely. The pursuit continued as far as Gaines' Mills. 
The enemy, observing the recrossingof the Chickahominy, 
came out from his second line of works. A brigade of 
infantry and a large number of dismounted cavalry at- 
tacked the divisions of Generals Gregg and Wilson, but 
after a severe contest, were repulsed and driven behind 
their works. Gregg's and Wilson's divisions after col- 
lecting the wounded recrossed the Chickahominy. On 
the afternoon of the 12th, the corps encamped at Wal- 
nut Grove and Gaines' Mills. On the forenoon of the 



64 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

13th, the march was resumed, and we encamped at 
Bottom's bridge. The command is in fine spirits. The 
loss of horses will not exceed one hundred. All the 
wounded were brought off, except about thirty cases of 
mortal wounds, and those were well cared for in the 
farmhouses of the country. The wounded will not exceed 
two hundred and fifty, and the total losses not over three 
hundred and fifty. 

" The Virginia Central railroad bridges over the Chick- 
ahominy, and other trestle bridges — one sixty feet in length, 
one thirty feet — and the railroad for a long distance south 
of the Chickahominy, were destroyed. 

" Great praise is given the division commanders, Gen- 
erals Gregg, Wilson and Merritt, and Generals Custer and 
Davis, Colonels Gregg, Devine, Chapman, Mcintosh and 
Gibbs, brigade commanders ; and all the officers and men 
behaved splendidly. 

" postscript. 

"May 15—12.30 a. m. 
" In a despatch, this moment received from Admiral 
Lee, he reports to the Secretary of the Navy, that the 
Richmond papers of May 1 4th, mention the death of 
General J. E. B. Stuart, shot in battle. This, no doubt, 
happened in the battle with Sheridan. 

"Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.^^ 

The advance of the Union force to the Pamunl^ey, was 
effectively supported by Sheridan's cavalry. On the 25th 
of May, his entire body of horse rejoined the main army, 
having accomplished its work in other directions. Having 
left HaxalPs, he had started from White House on the 
23d, camped that night at Aylettsville, a village two miles 
south of the Mattapony, and the scene of Kilpatrick's 
operations in the Stoneman raid. The next day he con- 
sumed in the march to Westerville station, the halt for 
the night being about nine miles to the east of that place. 
The day following, the cavalry again reported for duty, 
after an absence of sixteen days. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 65 

On Saturday morning, the 28th, our troops had obtained 
complete possession of Hanovertown and the neighboring 
region, having marched probably twenty-five miles, in the 
heat and dust, since Thursday night. All day long the 
troops continued to press forward, and before night the 
passage of the Pamunkey was effected. The weather 
continued clear and fine. The enthusiasm and spirit of 
the troops cannot be spoken of in terms of too high praise, 
and they did with alacrity all that was asked of them. 

The battle began about noon of Saturday, Davies^ 
brigade of Gregg's second division being in advance. 
Yery soon the entire division was hotly engaged, and our 
cavalry force had a taste of the severe and deadly fighting 
to which the infantry are thoroughly accustomed. The rebel 
cavalrymen were skilfully disposed, taking advantage of 
the neighboring woods. The artillery on both sides was 
briskly engaged. About tw^o o'clock, while the fight was 
hottest, and Gregg's division had hardly been able, even 
with great loss, to hold the desired ground, Custer's 
Michigan brigade of Torbert's first division came up, and 
pressing gallantly forward, repulsed the rebel forces. 
This brigade was armed with the Spencer repeating rifle, 
which proved very efficient. Under the concentrated fire 
the rebels retired, leaving the battle-field in our posses- 
sion, with a part of their killed and wounded in our hands. 
Our loss was about four hundred, and the enemy's not 
less. Fitz Hugh Lee and Hampton were in command 
of their forces. 

While Gregg's and Torbert's divisions had been thus 
employed, for two days, in clearing the roads from Chester- 
field to Hanovertown, in efi'ecting crossings of the Pamun- 
key, and finally in skirmishing and reconnoitering toward 
the enemy south of that river, Wilson's third division was 
briskly engaged in tearing up the Virginia Central and 
Fredericksburg railroad to Richmond, west and north of 



6Q LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

Sexton's Junction. Such a destruction was advisable 
from the fact that our forces had left the railroad commu- 
nication between Richmond and Gordonsville free from 
infantry attack. The destruction of the Fredericksburg 
road must at once have convinced the enemy that that 
line had now been entirely abandoned, and that our forces 
had been swung around into the old battle-ground north- 
cast of Richmond. 

On Wednesday, June 1st, the cavalry fighting, with 
artillery firing, was resumed on both flanks. In front of 
Hancock, also, and elsewhere, there was heavy skirmish- 
ing. At Coal Harbor, the conflict lasted longest, as the 
enemy were determined to drive us out, and Sheridan's 
orders were to hold it. Hoke's division was completely 
repulsed by Sheridan's dismounted cavalry, fighting with 
carbines. McLaws' division then reinforced Hoke, and, 
other portions of Longstreet's corps joining subsequently, 
our further advance was checked about noon, the affair 
having been very creditable to our cavalrymen. 

On the 18th of June additional despatches were received 
at the War Department : 

*' War Department, Washington,) 
^'Saturday, June 18, 1864 — 11 P. M. ) 

"Despatches from General Sheridan have just been re- 
ceived. He reports a victory over the enemy at Trevilan 
station, on the Virginia Central railroad, a few miles 
south of Gordonsville, where General Lee, a few days 
ago, reported a rebel victory. The oflQcial report is as 
follows : 

" I have the honor to report to you the arrival of my 
command at this point, and also to report its operations 
since leaving Newcastle ferry. I crossed the Pamunkey 
river on the Tth inst., marching via Aylett's and en- 
camped on Herring creek. On the morning of the 8th, 
I resumed the march via Polecat station, and encamped 
three miles west of the station. On the 9th I marched 
through Childsburg and New Market, encamping on 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GEXERAtf SHERIDAN. 67 

East-Nortbeast creek, near Young's bridge. On the 
10th I marched via Andrew's Tavern and Lernian's 
Store, crossing both branches of the North Anna, and en- 
camped at Buck Childs, about three miles northeast of 
Trevilan station. My intentrion was to break the railroad 
at this station, march through Mechanicsville, cut the 
Gordonsville and Charlottesville railroad near Ljndsay's 
House and then to march on Charlottesville, but on our 
arrival at Buck Childs, I found the enemy's cavalry in my 
immediate front. On the morning of the 11th, General 
Torbert, with his division, and Colonel Gregg, of General 
Gregg's division, attacked the enemy. After an obstinate 
contest they drove him from successive lines of breast- 
works through an almost impassable forest back on Tre- 
vilan station. In the meantime General Custer was 
ordered, with his brigade, to proceed by a country road 
so as to reach the station in the rear of the enemy's 
cavalry. On his arrival at this point, the enemy broke 
into a complete rout, leaving his dead aud nearly all his 
wounded in our hands ; also twenty officers, five hundred 
men, and three hundred horses. 

"These operations occupied the whole of the day. At 
night I encamped at Trevilan station, and on the morn- 
ing of the 12th instant commenced destroying the railroad 
from this point to Louisa Court House. This was 
thoroughly done — the ties burned and. the rails rendered 
unserviceable. The destruction of the railroad occupied 
until three o'clock of this day, when I directed General 
Torbert to advance with his division and General Davis's 
brigade of General Gregg's division, in the direction of 
Gordonsville, and attack the enemy, who had concentrated 
and been reinforced by infantry during the night, and had 
also constructed rifle-pits at a point about five miles from 
Gordonsville. The advance was made, but as the enem3^'s 
position was found too strong to assault, no general 
assault was made. On the extreme right of our lines a 
portion of the reserve brigade carried the enemy's works 
twice, and was twice driven therefrom by infantry. Night 
closed the contest. I found, on examintition of the com- 
mand, that there was not a sufficiency of ammunition left 
to continue the engagement. The next day trains of cars 
also came down to where we were engaged with the 
4 



68 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

enemy. The reports of prisoners and citizens were, that 
Pickett's old division was coming to prevent the taking 
''of Gordonsville. I therefore, during the night and next 
morning, withdrew my command over the North Anna via 
Carpenter's ford, near Miner's bridge. In addition, the 
animals were, for the two entire days in which we were 
engaged, without forage. The surrounding country affords 
nothing but grazing of a very inferior quality, and gen- 
erally at such points as were inaccessible to us. 

" The cavalry engagement of the 12th was by far the 
most brilliant one of the present campaign. The enemy's 
loss was very heavy. They lost the following named offi- 
cers in killed and wounded: Colonel McAllister, com- 
manding a regiment, killed ; Brigadier-General Resser, 
commanding a brigade, wounded, and Colonel Castor, 
commanding a regiment, wounded. My loss in killed and 
wounded will be about five hundred and seventy-five. Of 
this number four hundred and ninety are wounded. I 
brought off in my ambulances three hundred and seventy- 
seven — all that could be transported. The remainder 
were, with a number of rebel wounded that fell into my 
hands, left behind. Surgeons and attendants were de- 
tailed and remained in charge of them. I captured and 
have now with me three hundred and seventy prisoners 
of war, including twenty commissioned officers. My loss 
in captured will not exceed one hundred and sixty. They 
were principally from the fifth Michigan cavalry. This 
regiment gallantly charged down the Gordonsville road, 
capturing fifteen hundred horses and about eight hundred 
men, but were finally surrounded and had to give them up. 

" When the enemy broke they hurried between General 

Custer's command and Colonel Gregg's brigade, capturing 

five caissons of Pennington's battery, three of which were 

afterwards recaptured, leaving in their hands two eaissons, 

"P. H. Sheridan, Major- General Commanding. ^^ 



LIFE OF MAJOR- GENEKAL SHERIDAN. 69 



CHAPTER IX. 

AT FORT POWHATTAN. 

The official reports for the close of June state that on 
the 25th of that month Sheridan's cavalry, consisting of 
Tovbert's and Gregg's divisions, succeeded in crossing the 
James safely, four or five miles above Fort Powhattan, 
where the pontoon bridges could be guarded by gunboats, 
and the enemy kept away from his rear. The wagon 
train was several miles in length, and the cavalry in addi- 
tion, marching across two abreast, and about six thousand 
strong, made the passage an extended one. The enemy 
was active upon Sheridan's rear, but, with the aid of the 
gunboats, the latter was soon safe. It traversed an ex- 
hausted region, and what with terrible heat and drought, and 
roads pulverized into dust, the horses became badly jaded. 
Men and animals were both wearied by the long march 
and the lack of food and forage. Wade Hampton followed 
the column all the way, but did not venture to seriously 
harass it until towards its close, when h& coolly crossed 
the Mattapony and Pamunkey ahead of Sheridan, outrode 
him, and made an attack on the trains which Sheridan 
had fortunately left at White House, General Aber- 
crombie, with two or three thousand men and some field 
artillery, and especially with the gunboats, drove off the 
enemy's cavalry, and, soon after, Sheridan came up, and 
charged on the retreating enemy. After a little rest and 
recruitment, Sheridan took up his guns and his long 
trains, and set out toward the James. So soon as the 
enemy discovered that he had got this valuable material 
with him, they again approached him. About ten miles 
south of White House, near Jones's bridge on the Chicka- 



70 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

hoininy, a slight skirmish ensued, on the 23d. Thence 
the column proceeded slowly towards Charles City Court 
House, and, near St. Mary's church, on the 24th, found 
the enemy had again anticipated him, and was disputing 
the way. One of the briskest and severest cavalry battles 
of the campaign ensued. General Gregg's division was 
protecting the trains against which the enemy's attack 
was directed. From two o'clock in the afternoon till even- 
iijg he succeeded in keeping the enemy at bay, hurrying 
his wagons along as rapidly as possible, and fighting from 
one position to another. His artillery at length was got 
into position, and, although the enemy charged it fre- 
quently, they did not succeed in capturing it. At night- 
fall the enemy desisted from the pursuit, and the whole 
expedition got under cover of the gunboat's near Wilcox's 
wharf. 

AT PETERSBURG. 

About eight o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, the 
29th, Captain Whittaker with forty men of the third New 
York cavalry cut his way through from Reims' to Gen- 
eral Meade's headquarters, bringing news of Wilson's situa- 
tion, and arriving about half-past ten A. M. Early in the 
afternoon, the sixth corps started in the lightest marching 
order to Wilson's assistance, and the same day, General 
Sheridan, crossing the James with his two divisions, pro- 
ceeded as rapidly as possible in the same direction. The 
sixth corps arrived near the scene of action during the 
night, but the affair was already over. The men accord- 
ingly took position and occupied their time in destroying 
the railroad and telegraph for a few miles, and in burning 
several buildings. They found no enem}^ to oppose them 
at Reims'. About noon of the SO.th it was ascertained 
that Sheridan was well on his way, and the corps then 
retraced its steps toward its former camping ground, going 



LIFE OF MAJOR- GENERAL SHERIDAN". 71 

into line of battle at night along the Jerusalem turnpike. 
Many contrabands were recovered by this advance of the 
sixth corps. 



- « ^ • » » 



CHAPTER X. 

LAST CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH. 

Lieutenant- General Grant visited the Maryland 
department of the army in person, in August, 1864. The 
result was that the forces destined for the defence of the 
valley, under General Sheridan, began assembling at 
Harper's Ferry. This force consisted of the sixth and 
nineteenth corps and Crook's division of infantry, and 
Torbert's division of cavalry, with some of Hunter's cav- 
alry, being the brigades of Devins, Custer, Lowell, and 
Gibbs. On Wednesday, the 10th, the column started 
down the valley. There was some skirmishing on Thurs- 
day and Friday, near Winchester, and again at Newtown. 
On Saturday our forces were as far as Strasburg. 

During the eventful month of August, General Sheridan 
continued his movements in the valley. The rebels 
being found in a strong position near Strasburg, and 
there being nothing to gain by dislodging them, except to 
open the way for a movement up the valley, for which he 
was not prepared, he thought it prudent to retire, espe- 
cially as his communications were threatened by a portion 
of Longstreet's corps moving toward his rear from the 
opposite side of the Blue Ridge. This movement was 
met by General Merritt's division of cavalry, who on the 
16th attacked and defeated General Kershaw's division 
of Longstreet's corps, capturing nearly three hundred 
prisoners, and giving General Sheridan time to withdraw 



72 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

to the neighborhood of Charlestown. An attack was 
made on the 21st by the enemy, who had united his 
forces to follow up our retreat. An attempt was made to 
pierce our right near Summit Point, a feiat being at the 
same time made on our left. The right of our line was 
formed by the sixth corps resting on the Martinsburg 
turnpike, about two miles south of Charlestown, the 
left extending toward Berryville and across the Berry ville 
turnpike. The centre was held by the eighth corps, Gen- 
eral Crook, and the right by the nineteenth corps. The 
movement against our right was met by the sixth corps, 
Vv^ho bore the brunt of the engagement, fighting nearly all 
day and suffering heavy loss. 

On the morning of Sunday, the 28th, General Sheridan 
was on the march, with his cavalry in advance, carefully 
reconnoiteriug in various directions. The enemy were 
found, however, near Smithfield, five or six miles to the 
southwest, by General Merritt, who attacked the rebel 
cavalry vigorously, driving them through the town and 
beyond Opequan creek, where he came in contact with 
infantry. General Custer's brigade of cavalry, with Ran- 
som's battery, were moved across the creek for the pur- 
pose of making a reconnoissance towards Bunker Hill. 
But after an encounter with the enemy's skirmish line, 
they retired across the stream, followed by infantry, who 
attempted to outflank them. Our cavalry accordingly 
fell back upon Smithfield, in season to escape the move- 
ment. Here they were met by General Rickett's division 
of infantry, before whose advance the enemy found it pru- 
dent rapidly to withdraw. Our loss in this affair was 
less than one hundred, including Dr. Rulison, medical 
director on General Torbert's staff. Lieutenant Hoyer 
of the first regular cavalry was also killed. Some prison- 
ers were captured by our cavalry. 

It was evidently General Sheridan's plan to securely 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 73 

hold his position in the valley, attempting no venturesome 
expedition, but keeping his force in hand to checkmate 
any movement of Early looking to an advance northward. 
General Grant arrived at Monocacy on the evening of 
the 5th of August. A consultation took place next day 
between Generals Grant, Hunter and Sheridan, and when, 
at noon. General Grant returned to his own army, General 
Sheridan proceeded to Harper's Ferry, and, at the latter 
point, began to concentrate his troops. On the tth day 
of August, Sheridan assumed command of the middle 
military division, comprising the old departments of 
Washington, of the Susquehanna, of West Virginia, and 
the middle department. In a word, all the scattered 
commands in the valley, and in Maryland and Pennsylva- 
nia, were now united into one. At the same time, head- 
quarters, which had been at Monocacy, were removed to 
Harper's Ferry. In the enemy's movements, great 
changes w^ere going on. After having driven us away 
from the Potomac with a ridiculously small force, his weak- 
ness had at length been exposed in spite of his devices 
to conceal it. On Saturday, the 6th, the day before 
Sheridan assumed command, the enemy was entirely out 
of Maryland, and some distance up the valley. On Sun- 
day, the day of his assuming command, our cavalry had 
occupied Hagerstown, and the enemy was found to be 
deliberately retreating toward Winchester. The same 
day Averill's cavalry division severely repulsed an equal 
cavalry force under McCausland and Johnson, far to the 
southwest, at Moorsfield, capturing four hundred prison- 
ers, four cannon, and three flags, and inflicting a large 
loss in killed and wounded, with a surprisingly small loss 
on our part. Moorsfield is on the east side of the south 
fork of the Potomac, one hundred and thirty-one miles 
northwest of Richmond, forty-one west of Winchester, 
and forty-five south of Cumberland. 



74 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

Such were the favorable circumstances — with the enemy 
entirely in Virginia — under which Sheridan collected the 
troops assigned to him. The sixth army corps occupied 
Halltown, not far from Harper's Ferry. Torbert's first 
division of cavalry had already come up from City Point 
to Washington, and marching from Washington on the 
5th, reached Harper's Ferry on the 8th. Detachments of 
cavalry at once occupied Charlestown and Shepherdstown, 
in which only small squads of the enemy were found. 
The brigades of Lowell and Devin came up on Tuesday, 
the 9th, and, on that day, General Torbert took command 
of all the cavalry of the middle division, turning his own 
division over to General Merritt. Sheridan's troops con- 
sisted now chiefly of the sixth, eighth and nineteenth corps 
of infantry, and the infantry of the old army of the Kana- 
wha, under Crook. A part of the nineteenth corps, how- 
ever, was still in Louisiana. His cavalry comprised the 
entire first division of Potomac cavalry, AverilPs division, 
Kelly's command, and Lowell's brigade, the latter having 
been till recently near Washington. Wilson's second 
cavalry division joined Sheridan soon after, having come 
up from City Point, and leaving Washington for Win- 
chester on the 13th. 

Against this strong and compact army. General Early 
was now able to muster, according to all reports, drawn 
from mnny discrepant accounts, and some trustworthy 
sources, about eighteen thousand men. It seems to have 
consisted, first, of two infantry corps, under Rhodes and 
Breckinridge. Rhodes had his own old division and 
Ramseur's, and various reserves in the valley, the whole 
estimated at about seven thousand men. Ramseur's 
division comprised the brigades of Lillie (formerly of 
Pegram), Evans and Johnson. Breckinridge had the 
divisions of Wharton and Gordon, four thousand five 
hundred or five thousand strong, the former having two 



LIFE OF MA JOE- GENERAL SHERIDAN. 75 

brigades, and the latter (like Rhodes' old division) con- 
sisting of four. Ransom's cavalry consisted of about five 
thousand five hundred troops, divided into four brigades, 
under Imboden, McCausland, Jackson and Yaughan. 
The artillery, under Long, consisted of three battalions, 
and not far from fifty guns. 

THE ADVANCE. 

At sunrise on Wednesday morning, the 10th of August, 
Sheridan began to move out his forces from Halltown for 
the repossession of the valley. The force reached Charles- 
town in two hours, where the nineteenth corps struck off 
to the left for Berryville, preceded by the cavalry brigades 
of Custer and Gibbs. Still further to the left marched 
Crook's infantry, with mounted men in advance. Finally, 
on the right, the sixth" corps, preceded by the brigades 
of Devin and Lowell, kept on the Winchester road a 
few miles, and then turned off toward Smithsfield, and 
toward the nineteenth. The weather was terribly hot, 
and the dust, heat, and drought, made it difficult to push 
the men on. At Berryville, the roads of the two right 
columns met ; and about noon the several cavalry brigades 
of Custer, Devin, Gibbs, and Lowell, there formed junction, 
and marched toward the Millwood and Winchester pike, 
along a cross-road. Just beyond Berryville, four of the 
enemy were taken in a barn, while engaged in threshing 
wheat; and evidences of the employment of many others 
in the same labor soon accumulated. The enemy's 
soldiers had sown much of the wheat in the spring, and 
were now harvesting it and transporting it to Richmond. 

Four miles from Berryville, near Dr. Randolph's, a 
few of the enemy's skirmishers were posted to defend the 
Winchester pike. The sixth Pennsylvania and first 
Xew York, of Gibbs' reserve brigade, easily drove them 
off, after a half hour's skirmishing, with a loss of only 



76 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

about twenty men on our side, all wounded. Lowell also 
had a slight skirmish, on the road from Charlestown to 
Summit Point, and captured a few prisoners. The 
infantry bivouacked in the vicinity of Berrysville, after a 
march of about fifteen miles, on the different roads they 
had taken, with the sixth corps on the right, the nine- 
teenth in the centre, and Crook's troops on the left. The 
cavalry, in advance, held the Winchester and Millwood 
pike, and picketed all the neighborhood. Colonel Cesnola 
took possession of Millwood with his regiment, capturing 
there a few horses and cattle. Lieutenants Mix and 
Lenox, of the second cavalry, were severely wounded in 
Gibbs' skirmishes. So ended Wednesday. 

AFFAIR AT NEWTOWN. 

Next day, Thursday, the army took the road from 
Berryville to Winchester, the cavalry, of course, in ad- 
vance. Custer's Michigan brigade led off, and near 
Sulphur Springs bridge, about three miles from Win- 
chester, encountered the enemy in some force. A sharp 
skirmish by the first, fifth, sixth and seventh Michigan 
cavalry, and Ransom's battery, on our part, took place. 
The enemy had no artillery. The fight lasted about two 
hours, when we were flanked, checked, and driven back 
Our loss was only about thirty men, including Captain 
Mathers, who was killed. General Custer withdrew his 
command, having attained his object, which was to verify 
the fact that Early had begun to move his command up 
the valley from Winchester the day before. 

Meanwhile, Devon's second brigade, followed by Gibbs' 
reserve brigade, of the first cavalry division, had moved 
oft' on the road toward White Post, with the design of 
gaining the flank of the enemy, and of arriving by a 
circuitous route at Newtown, on the Winchester and 
Strasburg pike, along which the enemy was now retreat- 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 77 

ing. Cesnola's fourth New York, ia advance, soon 
encountered the enemy, and had brisk skirmishing near 
White Post, and beyond it, driving the enemy's skir- 
mishers to their supports. At length, at the cross-roads, 
on the stonepike to Front Royal, Cesnola found himself 
checked, and the rest of the second brigade was sent in. 
The sixth New York was repulsed with some loss in a 
mounted charge. The fourth, sixth, and ninth New 
York, and seventeenth Pennsylvania, then advanced, 
dismounted, supported by Pierce's battery. The fight 
lasted from eleven till two, with no decisive result, though 
the enemy gave way some distance toward Newtown. 
His force consisted of Jones' Tennessee brigade of mounted 
infantry, with three field-pieces. His position was very 
strong, and, until he was forced from it, he succeeded in 
inflicting a heavy loss on our troops. But the cross-roads 
were carried, and, at four o'clock. Crook came up with his 
infantry, relieved Deven, and, passing on toward Front 
Royal, bivouacked several miles south of the cross-roads. 
Deven's brigade then marched on to the relief of Gibbs, 
who had moved to White Post, and thence nearly to 
Newtown, and was now hotly engaged. The first and 
second cavalry, the first New York and sixth Pennsyl- 
vania, and battery D, of the second artillery, attacked the 
enemy, but were driven back. Fortunately, Deven's 
whole brigade arrived at this juncture, and succeeded in 
checking the enemy. The latter fell back to the woods, 
and our forces also retired about a mile, and bivouacked, 
with a strong picket guard in front. The object of the 
day's march was not attained, as the enemy, by hard 
fighting, had succeeded in retaining Newtown, and covered 
the passage of his trains, which passed on a parallel road, 
a little west of the Strasburg pike. Our total loss was 
probably about two hundred and fifty or three hundred, 
of which one hundred and fifty were ascribed to Gibbs, 



78 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

and about sixty to Deven. Custer's loss is not stated. The 
infantry had a severe march in the torrid weather, but no 
fighting ; the only casualties being the numerous ones 
from sunstroke. They passed beyond Winchester and 
Millwood, now evacuated by the enemy, and camped, at 
night, six miles to the southeast of the former place. 
Early, fathoming the design of Sheridan to flank him, had 
begun his withdrawal from Winchester to Newtown on 
Wednesday morning, and continued it till Thursday 
morning. About ten o'clock of the latter day, Lowell's 
cavalry charged through the town, but effected nothing, 
for the rear-guard had already moved out at the other 
end. The fighting of the day was entirely conducted by 
Early's rear-guard. 

THE ADVANCE CONTINUED. 

Early on Friday, the 12th, the column moved forward 
again, having ascertained that the enemy bad retreated. 
Lowell's brigade had the cavalry advance to Newtown, 
and thence the march to Strasburg in three columns, 
Lowell on the right, Gibbs in the centre on the pike, and 
Custer on the left. The ninth New York reconnoitered 
toward Eront Royal, which contained a picket of the 
enemy. The cavalry pushed on, skirmishing most of the 
way to Cedar creek, above Middletown. There, about 
noon, a force of the enemy was found in position on a hill 
in front of Strasburg, from which they shelled and drove 
back the^avalry skirmishers. The latter were then 
relieved by the eighth corps, which had now arrived. A 
reconnoissance, made by the fourth New York to Faucet 
gap, in North mountain, discovered no enemy there. 
One made by the second brigade on the back road to 
Strasburg, resulted in a slight skirmish with the rear 
guard of one of Early's trains, who drove off the sixth 
New York, and continued on unmolested. The enemy 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GEXERAL SHERIDAN. 79 

remained encamped on the southwest side of Cedar creek, 
in some old breastworks, and our forces bivouacked on 
the northeast side of the creek. There was brisk skir- 
mishing all through the day, and some spiteful shelling 
across the creek at evening, but no general engagement. 
On passing through Stephensburg and Middletown in the 
forenoon, our forces had met no enemy. Cedar creek is 
about three miles north of Strasburg. The three days' 
marching had not been remarkable. But, considering the 
heat, dust, and drought, very good time had been made. 

Saturday morning, our skirmishers got into Strasburg, 
beyond which the enemy had retired during the night. 
But they withdrew again on the reappearance of the 
enemy, and the whole army, which had again started out, 
was recalled, and during Saturday and Sunday, our 
forces remained inactive around Cedar creek. Stras- 
burg was retained by the enemy. Sunday and Monday 
there was light skirmishing. Sheridan's headquarters 
were one mile from the creek, on a spot similarly used in 
turn by Fremont, Sigel, and Hunter. On Sunday even- 
ing, a skirmish line of the sixth and eighth corps was 
pushed out, and easily captured the heights in front of 
Strasburg, the enemy's weak line retiring into the town. 
Our loss was only twenty or thirty. Next morning the 
enemy's pickets, which were all the force that had held 
the town for two days, retired. But works on Fisher's 
hill, beyond Strasburg, still commanded it. Once more 
Sheridan moved forward from Charlestown, to which 
point he had retired. The advance began early on 
Saturday, the 3d. At ten and a-half A. m., a sharp fight 
took place between the second cavalry division and 
Lomax's cavalry, the latter attacking our line near 
Darkesville, seven miles south of Martinsburg, The 
cavalry successfully repulsed the enemy, and drove him 
from the field, suffering a loss of less than fifty men. 



80 LIFE OF MAJOK-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

Meanwhile, Crook's infantry reached Berryville about 
noon. While encamped for rest and dinner, they were 
suddenly attacked by the enemy. Crook hastily formed 
his men, consisting of the Kanawha troops and portions 
of the eighth corps, and a severe battle ensued, lasting 
till after dark. The enemy was repulsed, with severe 
loss, including sixty or seventy prisoners captured. Our 
loss was estimated at about three hundred. The rest of 
the army now came up and went into position near 
Berryville. 

BATTLE OF CROOKED RTJIT. 

With a view to prevent the enemy from flanking us by 
way of the gaps in the Blue Ridge, and to cover our re- 
treat, on Sunday evening Deven's cavalry brigade was 
sent out from Cedar creek, where the main army was 
encamped, a few miles to the southeast, totv^ard Front 
Royal. A small stream runs from Chester gap past 
Front Royal into the Shenandoah at this point. Near by, 
the two forks of the Shenandoah unite. A part of Ker- 
shaw's division^ having taken part in the actions near 
Malvern Hill, had come by rail to Mitchell station, and 
had just marched thence to Front Royal. On Tuesday 
morning, the 16th, Custer's brigade was sent across to 
support Deven, who was about four miles from Front 
Royal, Gibbs' brigade following. Custer arrived soon 
after noon, and his men went into camp, and made them- 
selves comfortable. Deven held the right and Custer the 
left. But the line was very suddenly roused from its 
equanimity by the appearance of the enemy in two col- 
umns, marching down the Winchester and Front Royal 
pike, to cross the Shenandoah and attack our troops. A 
column of infantry made for the ford, and one of cavalry 
for the bridge. Custer quickly got his command into 
position, holding the left of the pike with Ransom's 
battery, and the first, fifth, sixth and seventh Michigan. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 81 

A brisk artillery duel took place, the enemy using eight 
pieces, but with no great damage to us. But, having 
seized and crossed the river, and driven in our skirmishers, 
he advanced to carry our batteries, which were advan- 
tageously posted. After a brisk charge, he was repulsed 
on our right, and driven across the river again, the fourth 
and sixth New York, of Deven's brigade, charging him 
gallantly, and capturing each a flag. Meanwhile, how- 
ever, he secured a good position for his artillery, and next 
attempted to turn our left. A series of sharp charges 
and counter charges between the brigade of Kershaw's 
division which had crossed, and Custer's cavalry brigade, 
now ensued, prolonging the battle till after dark. Custer 
had posted his regiments well, and the assaults of the 
enemy were repulsed with heavy loss to him. Our cav- 
alry then made several handsome mounted charges, and 
the enemy, foiled on the left, as he had been previously 
on the right, fell back across the stream. But a regiment 
sent round to the ford, cut off and captured about one 
hundred and fifty of his men, before they could reach the 
river. The enemy's force consisted of a part of Kershaw's 
division, and two small cavalry brigades under Lomax 
and Wickham. Ours was composed of Custer's and 
Deven's brigades, under command of General Merritt! 
The second brigade captured one hundred and forty 
prisoners, and the first over sixty. About two hundred 
(one account says two hundred and seventy-six) prisoners 
in all, including two field oflBcers, were captured by us, 
and over thirty of the enemy's dead were left on the field, 
including a colonel, besides many wounded. Our total 
loss was only sixty or seventy. 

During the night the enemy demonstrated against our 
lines, but effected nothing important. Early the next 
morning the cavalry fell back on the pike, in the track of 
the infantry column. On the retreat, the orders were for 



82 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

the destruction or capture of all stock and grain, hay, and 
every thing which could afford sustenance to man or beast. 
These orders were strictly executed, the fields and gardens 
being ravaged and swept clean. A Richmond paper said : 

" The enemy, as they retired from Strasburg, literally 
destroyed every thing in the way of food for man or beast. 
With their immense cavalry they extended their lines from 
Front Royal, in Warren county, to the North Mountains, 
west of Strasburg, and burnt every bushel of wheat in 
stack, barn, or mill, in Frederick, Warren, and Clark, as 
well as oats and hay. They have really left absolutely 
nothing in those three counties. They drove before them 
every horse, cow, sheep, hog, calf, and living animal, from 
the country. What the people are to do God only knows. 
General Early, two weeks since, gave orders not to have 
a bushel of grain taken from below Strasburg, as hardly 
enough was left for the citizens. Our corn crop, for want 
of labor to cultivate, and the drought, is a failure — so that 
starvation on the border is no joke." 

The enemy followed close on our heels, and reached 
Winchester before night of Wednesday. Our wagon train, 
starting on Monday, was now well advanced toward 
Harper's Ferry, and the sixth corps, which brought up 
the rear of the infantry column, had left Winchester on 
the morning of Wednesday. Penrose's (New Jersey) 
first brigade, first division of the corps, had been left be- 
hind as a support to Torbert's cavalry. About one o'clock 
of Wednesday afternoon, the enemy's advance came up 
the Winchester and Newton pike, and attacked Colonel 
Penrose, who layabout a mile beyond Winchester, toward 
Kernstown. Our cavalry were quickly driven in, and 
left the brunt of the battle to the infantry. Heavy skir- 
mishing went on from one to four o'clock, the enemy, of 
course, gradually drawing up his forces. The brigade 
numbered only about five hundred men, and had to be 
deployed in skirmishing order with cavalry on its flanks. 
The cavalry gave way, and retired to the town, leaving 



LIFE OF MAJOK-GENERAL^HERIDAN. 83 

Penrose still at his post, behind fences, trees, and walls. 
At nightfall the enemy had concentrated troops enouj^h to 
charge, and the gallant infantry brigade was, of course, 
quickly flanked on both sides and broken to pieces. It 
had stood its ground bravely to the last against over- 
whelming force, being attacked by Early's main column. 
At length Penrose, with such officers and men as could 
escape, retreated through the town toward Clifton and 
Martinsburg. Our loss, which was chiefly in prisoners, 
probably reached three hundred men. At night the 
enemy occupied Winchester, and was agreeably disap- 
pointed to find it whole and unburned. A Richmond 
paper says — " It is but justice to say, when General 
Emory, of the nineteenth corps, was here, he kept perfect 
order, and protected all property in town." 

This same night our cavalry bivouacked at Berryville, 
and next day took up its retreat toward Harper's Ferry. 
" Mosby's gang," meanwhile, had been busy, as usual, on 
our flanks. On Monday night he had boldly surprised 
and attacked the fifth New York cavalry, just as it went 
into camp near Berrj^ville, and killed two men, wounded 
several more, and captured about twenty horses. All the 
week Mosby's guerrillas — for whatever is done near the 
Potomac is at once laid to Mosby — were very active. 
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Lieutenant Walker and two 
men of the first cavalry were killed, and Lieutenant 
Gwyer of the fifth, with several others, were wounded by 
guerrillas between Charlestown and Berryville. On Thurs- 
day, some guerrillas in citizens' dress accosted an ad- 
vanced post of the fifth Michigan cavalry, picketed at 
Snicker's gap, and while conversing, suddenly fired, 
killed the corporal, captured two men, and hastily es- 
caped. Several other soldiers were wounded or taken 
prisoners, under like circumstances, the same day and 
next. On Friday, General Custer ordered a detachment 



84 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAX. 

of the fifth Michigan to destroy some houses of disloyal 
citizens in retaliation. While so engaged, the squad was 
charged upon by Mosby's men, in equal or superior 
numbers, and broke and fled in confusion. Many were 
overtaken, and surrendering, were shot, and either killed 
or left for dead. Ten men were instantly murdered after 
surrendering. Many neighboring houses were destroyed 
in retaliation for the butchery. The massacre took place 
near the Snicker's gap pike. Our loss was fifteen killed 
and three wounded. These figures, as well as incontes- 
table evidence of the survivors, show the nature of the 
aflfair. A Richmond paper confirms the account also, and 
mentions it with approval. Our cavalry on Friday still 
held Berryville ; but many stragglers from camp were 
captured, as were also laborers on the railroad. Some of 
the soldiers met no mercy from their captors. 

During the retreat, Averill, who commanded at Mar- 
tinsburg, had continued to hold it, though by Thursday 
there was great alarm there. And, indeed, there had 
already begun in Maryland the old story of "another in- 
vasion of the North by Early." Refugees arrived at 
Hagerstown in large numbers, and the Maryland farmers 
ran their stock into Pennsylvania again for safety. On 
Thursday, the 18th, Averill abandoned Martinsburg with 
his main force, leaving one cavalry company in the town. 
A general stampede of the people in all that region took 
place, and reports of Sheridan's defeat were current. 
The merchants in Hagerstown packed their goods aad 
sent thefo. north. The quartermaster's stores were loaded 
on a train for Frederick. The Hagerstown stores were 
closed, and the streets were deserted by the citizens. 
The sick and wounded were carried to Harrlsburg. This 
was a specimen of what occurrod in the whole region. 
This was "Early's fourth invasion !" 

Averill, meanwhile, held the fords from Sliepardstown 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 85 

to Williamsport, and once more our forces were crowded 
back to Maryland, and addressed their energies to pre- 
venting a crossing of the Potomac. 

AFFAIRS AT SUMMIT POINT. 

On Sunday, the 21st, Sheridan had got his troops into 
a very advantageous position, about two miles out from 
Charlestown, near Summit Point, from the Smithfield to 
the Berry ville pike, with the sixth corps on the right, the 
eighth in the centre, and the nineteenth on the left, the 
latter overlapping the Berry ville pike. About eight 
o'clock. Early came up, on his road to Martinsburg, and 
with a part of his columns attacked our advanced cavalry 
skirmishers, on the right and left, easily driving them in. 
His main body moved off across our right ; but with a 
small force he drove back Wilson's cavalry division from 
its good position on Summit Point, with very great loss. 
Mackintosh's brigade alone is said to have lost nearly 
three hundred men and officers. Soon after, the cavalry 
being routed, the enemy threw a few brigades against the 
sixth corps and the right of the eighth, under a heavy fire 
of shells. The cavalry meanwhile had fallen through 
Charlestown, and beyond the town, except a part, which 
got out on the extreme left of the nineteenth corps, and 
dismounting, threw up breastworks. But the fighting 
which ensued was all on the right. It lasted from ten 
o'clock through the day. The sixth corps steadily ad- 
vanced, and drove the enemy's skirmishers back, until 
they came upon the enemy's own line of battle. Then, 
at dark, they retired to their original position, after very 
heavy skirmishing all day. Cannonading was kept up 
still later. The losses in the sixth corps were quite large, 
the second division losing about four hundred officers and 
men. 



86 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

On Wednesday, the 24th, Johnson's brigade of Duval's 
division, and a brigade of Thorburn's division, Crook's 
corps, with Lowell's cavalry brigade, reconnoitered the 
enemy, who still persisted in not attacking us. The com- 
mand moved out on our left, near the Charlestown pike, 
and coming upon the enemy's picket line, endeavored to 
flank and capture it. The enemy opened sharply on 
Duval's flank, on discovering him ; but was pushed back 
into the corn-fields, toward his main line. Being now re- 
inforced by infantry and a battery, he opened a hot fire 
upon us, evidently thinking it a general advance. Having 
ascertained that Early was still at Charlestown in force, 
with his pickets out toward Bunker Hill, our men fell 
back to their lines. The enemy also drew up to their old 
skirmish line. Our loss was about sixty — the enemy's not 
quite so great. 

On Thursday, the 25th, Torbert's cavalry reconnoitered 
toward Leetown in full force, Wilson's division moving 
out from Halltown and uniting with Merritt's at Kearneys- 
ville. At the latter place, the enemy's skirmishers re- 
tired, but finally resisted with a battery and with musketry. 
The troops were dismounted, and Custer became quickly 
engaged on the right of the Shepardstown road. On his 
left was Mcintosh, and on the latter's left was Chapman, 
both of Wilson's division. For a while the enemy poured 
in a heavy fire, but^at length our commands were got into 
working order, and drove the enemy back. Our batteries 
also were effectively served on him. But soon the enemy 
turned the tide, drove our men precipitately to their 
old position, and began to flank them. His battery 
played accurately upon us. In a word, the first and 
third divisions were badly handled, and fell back as rap- 
idly as possible toward Harper's Ferry, abandoning 
Kearneysville, which they had held in the morning. A 
running fight ensued from eleven o'clock till dark, at which 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 87 

time Merritt's (first) division was safe in camp at Bolivar 
Heights. But Custer, who had the rear in the retreat, 
was hotly pursued, and at Shepardstown found himself 
cut off from the Halltown road, on which he intended to 
march. Gibbs and Di Cesnola fought the enemy with 
great vigor, but Custer was driven toward the Potomac, 
which he crossed, and thus escaped, the enemy not caring 
to follow, but holding the Potomac from Shepardstown to 
Williamsport, Our losses were reported as not much 
above two hundred killed and wounded. Among the 
officers killed was Major Schlick. The enemy had brought 
up from Charlestown a strong infantry force. 

About five o'clock the same evening, AverilPs picket- 
post near Falling Waters was attacked, and a slight skir- 
mish ensued. The next morning, the 26th, the enemy 
shelled Williamsport also, and demonstrated as if about to 
cross at the ford. A spirited fight occurred, but Averill re- 
pulsed the enemy. At night, he appeared at Dam No. 4. 
Averill again thwarted his attempts or feints at crossing, 
whichever they were. All along the neighborhood of 
Williamsport the enemy had skirmishers, but none of them 
succeeded in crossing the river. Scouting and skirmish- 
ing were constant. On Friday afternoon, Thorburn's 
second division of Crook's corps, and Lowell's cavalry, 
pushed a reconnoissance toward Halltown. The infantry 
moved out in front, and the cavalry on the left. The 
former soon encountered the enemy, and after a sharp con- 
test of twenty minutes, drove him to the cover of his artil- 
lery in the rear. At the moment they broke, Lowell 
dashed in on the flank, delivered a sharp fire, and cut off 
and captured sixty-nine prisoners, including six officers, 
one a lieutenant-colonel. The enemy's second line opened 
with vigor on our troops as they advanced, but the latter 
were soon retired, having gained the information sought 
for. An artillery duel went on for half an hour after the 



88 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

recall of the troops. The afifair was quite similar to the 
reconnoissance of Wednesday, the troops employed being 
about the same, and the ground traversed also the same. 
Our loss did not exceed one hundred, while the enemy's 
was greater. Sheridan telegraphed that during the day 
ho had captured one hundred and one prisoners, and in- 
flicted a loss in killed and wounded of one hundred aud 
fifty. He also said that during the night the enemy fell 
back to Smithfield or Middleway. 

FISHER'S HILL. 

By Wednesday morning, the 21st, Sheridan's army was 
all in good position. The enemy was posted with his 
right on the north fork of the Shenandoah, and his left 
on the North Mountain. His line, running westerl}^ ex- 
tended across the Strasburg valley. There was con- 
siderable manoeuvering for position till after mid-day. 
Crook's eighth corps was on our right, Wright's sixth in 
the centre, and Emory's nineteenth on the left. While 
Emory demonstrated on the left, Rickett's division of the 
sixth corps advanced directly in front, and Averill drove 
in the enemy's skirmishers. Under cover of these de- 
monstrations, Crook moved out to the extreme right, and 
after an arduous march, swept about and flanked the 
enemy's left. At four or five o'clock in the evening, a 
gallant charge was made by Crook, who carried the 
enemy before him, turning him out of his intrenchments 
in great confusion. At the same time, Wright attacked 
in the centre, and Emory on the left, and Averill skirted 
along the base of the South Mountain. With great 
rapidity, the sixth corps broke in the enemy's centre, 
separating his two wings, and in great disorganization, 
the enemy broke and fled toward Woodstock. Artillery, 
horses, wagons, rifles, knapsacks, and canteens, were 
abandoned in the flight and lined the road. It was a 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 89 

very disastrous defeat. Eleven hundred prisoners and 
sixteen pieces of artillery were captured, besides a great 
many caissons and artillery horses, with ammunition, 
small arms, and such'spoils as fall from an army retreating 
under such disadvantages. 

No sooner had Early abandoned his strong position, 
than Sheridan was on his trail. He marched his troops 
on the night after the battle to ^Woodstock, and there 
halted, next morning, for rest and rations. Averill, 
pushing on in advance, drove the enemy to Mount Jack- 
son, twenty-five miles south of Strasburg, where ho 
halted and made a stand, checking our advance with 
infantry and artillery. From Woodstock, Sheridan moved 
rapidly up the valley to Mount Jackson, and thence to 
New Market, and on Sunday, the 25th, his headquarters 
were reported to be at Harrisonburg, with his cavalry 
moving toward Staunton. On Thursday, the 25th, and 
Friday, the 26th, reconnoissances were made by our cav- 
alry to discover the enemy's position. On the former day 
General Torbert advanced on our right up the Winchester 
pike, coming in contact with the enemy in force near 
Leetown, a portion of bis force narrowly escaping cap- 
ture, being flanked by the rebel infantry. A running 
fight was maintained until night, our troops falling back 
to a safe position between Shepardstown and Harper's 
Ferry, with a loss estimated at between one and two hun- 
dred. On the following day, Friday, the 26th, General 
Crook, on the left, ordered out Wells' brigade of Thorburn's 
division. Here the enemy developed little strength, giving 
way before our forces with the loss of a hundred prisoners, 
most of whom were captured by Colonel Lowell, of the 
second Massachusetts cavalry. On Saturday, Torbert en- 
countered, near Luray, the enemy's cavalry, who were 
trying to operate in our rear. A sharp engagement fol- 
lowed, the enemy being driven up the valley, with the loss 



90 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

of seventy-four prisoners, besides his killed and wounded. 
Next day Torbert's cavalry joined Sheridan beyond New- 
Market, and started on to Staunton. It was estimated 
that the enemy's loss in prisoners during all the recent 
engagements, reached five thousand, while bis killed and 
wounded amounted to three thousand. Our entire loss 
was probably not greater than four thousand. 

As the result of this reconnoissance, the enemy were 
discovered to have left our front, and on the morning of 
Sunday, the 28th, General Sheridan was on the march, 
with his cavalry in advance, carefully reconnoitering in 
various directions. The enemy were found, however, 
near Smithfield, five or six miles to the southwest, by 
General Merritt, who attacked the rebel cavalry vigorously, " 
driving them through the town and beyond Opequan 
creek, where he came in contact with infantry. General 
Custer's brigade of cavalry, with Ransom's battery, were 
moved across the creek for the purpose of making a recon- 
noissance toward Bunker Hill. But after an encounter 
with the enemy's skirmish line, they retired across the 
stream, followed by infantry, who attempted to outflank 
them. Our cavalry accordingly fell back upon Smithfield 
in season to escape the movement. Here they were met 
by General Rickett's division of infantry, before whose 
advance the enemy found it prudent rapidly to withdraw. 
Our loss in this affair was less than one hundred, including 
Dr. Rulison, medical director on General Torbert's staff. 
Lieutenant Hoyer of the first regular cavalry was also 
killed. Some prisoners were captured by our cavalry. 

PORT REPUBLIC. 

On retreating from Mount Jackson, Early paused at 
the point where the battle of New Market Hill was fought 
by Sigel. But he soon abandoned the place, and retreated 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN'. 91 

on Port Republic, and thence to Brown's gap. This 
latter point was now held by him in force. It is in the 
Blue Ridge, eight miles southeast of Port Republic, 
twenty miles east of Staunton, and fifteen northeast of 
Waynesboro'. Sheridan pursued to Port Republic, de- 
stroying seventy-five wagons .and four caissons. From 
Harrisonburg, Torbert, with Wilson's cavalry division 
and one brigade of Merritt's, marched to Staunton, which 
he entered at 8 a. m., of Monday the 26th, and there 
destroyed a large quantity of the enemy's property of 
various kinds. Thence he marched southeasterly to 
Waynesboro', threw the iron bridge over the South river 
at that point, into the river, and destroyed the bridge over 
Christiana Creek, and the railroad from Staunton to 
Waynesboro,' At Waynesboro' other government property 
was destroyed. But finding the tunnel defended by 
troops, Torbert retired to Harrisonburg by way of 
Staunton. Large supplies of forage and grain were 
found between Harrisonburg and Staunton, which passed 
from the enemy's possession to ours. 

These movements, however, were not made without 
fighting. Some shelling and skirmishing in the vicinity 
of Port Republic, between General Merritt and the enemy 
occurred on the 26th. At the same time, Powell, com- 
manding Averill's old division, pressed on towards Staun- 
ton. Both Merritt and Powell then attempted to carry 
Brown's gap, but were repulsed, and fell rapidly back, 
the former remaining at night near Port Republic, and 
the latter at Weyer's Cave. 

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. 

"Near Berryville, t p. m., September 13, 1864. 
"Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point: 

" This morning, I sent General Getty's division of the 
sixth corps, with two brigades of cavalry, to the crossing 



92 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

of the Summit Point and Winchester road over the Ope- 
quan creek, to develop the force of the enemy at the 
crossing: in that vicinity. Rhodes', Ramseur's, Gordon's, 
and Wharton's divisions were found on the west bank. 
At the same time, Generals Wilson and Mcintosh's 
brigades of cavalry dashed up the Winchester pike, drove 
the'rebel cavalry at a run, came in contact with Kershaw's 
division, charged it, and captured the eighth South Caro- 
lina regiment, sixteen officers and one hundred and forty- 
five men, and its battle-flag, and Colonel Heunegan, com- 
manding brigade, with a loss of only two men killed and 
two wounded. Great credit is due to Generals Wilson 
and Mcintosh, the third New Jersey and second Ohio. 
The charge was a gallant one. A portion of the second 
Massachusetts reserve brigade made a charge on the 
right of the line, and captured one officer and eleven men 
of Gordon's division of infantry. Our loss in the recon- 
noissance is very light. 

*'P. H. Sheridan, Major- General.''^ 



"Winchester, Ya., September 19, 1864—1:30 p. m. 
"Lieutenant- General U. S. Grant: 

" I have the honor to report that I attacked the forces 
of General Early, over the Berryville pike, at the crossing 
of Opequan creek, and after a most stubborn and san- 
guinary engagement, which lasted from early in the 
morning until five o'clock in the evening, completely de- 
feated him, driving him through Winchester, capturing 
about two thousand five hundred prisoners, five pieces of 
artillery, nine army flags, and most of their wounded. 
The rebel Generals Rhodes and Gordon were killed, and 
three other general officers were wounded. Most of 
the enemy's wounded and all their killed fell into 
our hands. Our losses are severe. Among them is 
General D. A. Russell, commanding a division of the 
sixth corps, who was killed by a cannon ball. Generals 
Upton, Mcintosh, and Chapman, were wounded. I can- 
not tell our losses. The conduct of the officers and men 
was most superb. They charged and carried every posi- 
tion taken up by the rebels from Opequan creek to Win- 
chester. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. • 9B 

" The rebels were strong in numbers, and very obsti- 
nate in fighting. I desire to mention to the Lieutenant- 
General commanding the army, the gallant conduct of 
Generals Wright, Crook, Emory, Torbert, and the officers 
and men under their command. To them the country is 
indebted for this handsome victory. A more detailed re- 
port will be forwarded. 

"P. H. Sheridan, 

'^ Major- General Commanding. " 



''War Department, Washington,") 
"Tuesday, September 26, 1864—12 m. | 

" Major-General John A. Dix : 

*' The following despatch has just been received, giving 
further particulars of Sheridan's great victory. A salute 
of one hundred guns has just been given : 

" Harper's Ferry, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1864 — 11:40 a. m. 
'' Hon. E. M. Stanton : 

"Just received the following official from General 
Sheridan, dated 1 a. m. to-day. 

" General : We fought Early from daylight till be- 
tween six and seven p. m. We drove him from Ope- 
quan creek through Winchester and beyond the town. 
We captured two thousand five hundred to three thousand 
prisoners, five pieces of artillery, nine battle-flags, and all 
the rebel wounded and dead. 

" Their wounded in Winchester amount to some three 
thousand. We lost in killed, General David Russell, com- 
manding a division of the sixth army corps, and wounded, 
Generals Chapman, Mcintosh, and Upton. The rebels 
lost in killed the following general officers : General 
Rhodes, General Wharton, General Gordon, and General 
Ramseur. 

" We have just sent them whirling through Winchester, 
and we are after them to-morrow. This army behaved 
splendidly. I am sending forward all the medical sup- 
plies, subsistence stores, and ambulances. 

" Jno. D. Stevenson, Brigadier- General. 
" Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.^^ 



94 • LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL iSHERIDAN". 

" War Department, Washington, > 
"31onday, September 20, 18 64 — Y p. M. ) 
*' To Major-General Dix, New Yoi^k : 

"The following is the latest intelligence received from 
General Sheridan : 

" Harper's Ferry, Ya., Monday, Sept. 20, 1864 — 8 p. M. 
" Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 

" The body of General Russell has arrived. As soon as 
it is embalmed, it will be forwarded to New York. Gen- 
eral Mcintosh, with his leg amputated, has just come in, 
and is in good spirits. 

" Several officers from the front report the number of 
prisoners in excess of three thousand. 

" The number of battle-flags captured was fifteen, in- 
stead of nine. 

"All concur that it was a complete rout. Our cavalry 
started in pursuit at daylight this morning. Sheridan, 
when last heard from, was at Kearnstown. I sent for- 
ward this morning ample medical supplies. Full subsis- 
tence for the entire army goes forward. If you do not 
hear from me often, it will be because of the distance we 
are from the scene of action, and because I only send you 
such information as I esteem reliable. 

"John B. Richardson, Brigadier- General. 

*' The President has appointed General Sheridan a 
brigadier in the regular army, and assigned him to the 
permanent command of the middle military division. 

" General Grant has ordered the army under his com- 
mand to fire &, salute of one hundred guns at seven 
o'clock to-morrow morning in honor of Sheridan's great 
victory. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War." 



" War Department, Washington, > 
" September 21, 1864—10:15 a.m. | 
" To Major-General John A. Dix : 

"This Department has just received the following tele- 
gram, announcing the continued pursuit of the rebels by 
General Sheridan. Cedar creek, which General Sheridan 
was crossing yesterday at three o'clock in the afternoon, 
is a short distance this side of Strasburg. He had pur- 
sued the rebels over thirty miles from the point where he 
first attacked them at daylight on Monday: 



LIFE OF MAJOR- QTENERAL SHERIDAN. 95 

" Harper's Fjerry, September 21, 1864. 
" Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War: 

" Reliable news from the front states that our army was 
crossing Cedar creek yesterday at three p.m. There was 
no fighting. 

" The following list of rebel generals killed and wounded 
is correct : Generals Rhodes, Ramseur, Gordon, Terry, 
Goodwin, Bradley Johnson, and Fitz Hugh Lee. 

" From all I can learn, the number of prisoners will 
approximate to five thousand. • 

" The indications are that the rebels will nc^t make a 
stand short of Staunton. They are evidently too much 
demoralized to make a fight. 

" Jo'hnD. Stevenson, Brigadier- General. 

" General Grant transmits the following extract from the 
Richmond Sentinel of yesterday : — 

" The Richmond Sentinel of the 20th, has the follow- 
ing : 

"A slight ripple of «excitement was produced here yes- 
terday, by the report that a raiding party was advancing 
on Gordonsville, a^id were within a few miles of that place. 
The result of all our inquiries on this head is that this 
report originated in the fact that early yesterday a party 
of Yankee raiders, whoso numbers are not known, visited 
Rapidan bridge, and after destroying it, proceeded to 
Liberty Mills, five or six miles above, which they also de- 
stroyed. From this latter place they are believed to have 
gone back to Culpepper. 

''Edwin M. .Stanton, Secretary of War," 



"War Departmi'-nt, Washington, D. C, \ 
" September 26, 1864—10:30 a. m. j 

" Despatches from Gener al Sheridan up to eleven o'clock 
on Saturday night, dated six miles south of New Market, 
have been received. He had driven the enemy from 
Mount Jackson, without being able to bring on an engage- 
ment. The enemy were m oving rapidly, and he had no 
cavalry present to hold thern. 

"General Torbert had atta(?kedWickham's force at Lu ray, 
and captured a number of p risoners. 

"General Sheridan found*rebel hospitals in all the towns 
from Winchester to New Jlarket, and was eighty miles 



96 LIFE -OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

from Martinsburg. Twenty pieces of artillery were cap- 
tured at Fisher's Hill, together with eleven hundred pris- 
oners, a large amount of ammunition, caissons, limbers, 
&c., and a large quantity of intrenching tools, small arms, 
and debris. No list of the captured 'material has yet been 
received. 

"The small towns through the valley have a great many 
of the rebel wounded. 

" General Stevenson reports the arrival at Harper's 
Ferify of a train of our wounded, twenty captured guns, 
and eighty additional captured officers. 

"Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of WarJ^ 



" Harrisonburg, Ya., September 39, 1864 — Y:30 p. M. 
'' Lieutenant- General XJ. S. Grant, City Point: 

" In my last despatch, I informed you that I pressed 
Early so closely through New Market, at the same time 
sending cavalry around his flank, that he gave up the 
valley and took to the mountains, passing through Brown's 
gap. I kept up the pursuit to Port Republic, destroying 
seventy-five wagons, and four caissons. I sent General 
Torbert, who overtook me at Harrisonburg, to Staunton, 
with Wilson's division of cavalry, and one brigade of 
Merritt's. Torbert entered Staunton on the 26lh, and 
destroyed a large quantity of rebel government property, 
harness, saddles, small arms, hard bread, flour, repair 
shops, &c. 

" He then proceeded to Waynesboro', destroying the 
iron bridge over the south branch of the Shenandoah, seven 
miles of the track, the depot buildings, a government tan- 
nery, and a large amount of leather, flour, &c., at that 
place. He found the tunnel defended by infantry, and 
retired via Staunton. 

"It is my impression that most of the troops which 
Early had left passed through the mountains to Charlottes- 
ville ; that Kershaw's division came to his assistance, and 
I think, passed along the west base of the mountains to 
Waynesboro'. 

" I am getting from twenty- five to forty prisoners daily, 
who come from the mountains on each side and deliver 
themselves up. 



LIFE OF . MAJOE-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 97 

"From the most reliable accounts, Early's army was 
completely broken up, and is dispirited. 

"Kershaw had not reached Richmond, but was some- 
where in the vicinity of Gordonsville, when he received 
orders to rejoin Early. ' 

" The destruction of the grain and forage from here to 
Staunton will be a terrible blow to them. 

"All the grain, forage, etc., in the vicinity of Staunton, 
was retained for the use of Early's army. All in the lower 
part of the valley was shipped to Richmond for the use 
of Lee's army. 

" The country from here to Staunton was abundantly 
supplied with forage, grain, etc. 

" (Signed,) P. H. Sheridan, Major-GeneraV 



"Harrisonburg, Ya., September 26, 1864 — T p. m. 
" Lieutenant-General Grant : 

" I see it going the rounds of the papers that the nine- 
teenth corps was late in coming to the battle of Winches- 
ter. I was entirely unconscious of this until I saw it in 
the papers. The statement was made by R. L. Shelby. 
I wish to say that it was incorrect, and that this corre- 
spondent was arrested by my order on a previous occasion 
for writing untruthful accounts. 

" P. H. Sheridan, Major- GeneraV^ 

On the 2d of October, 1864, the enemy advanced on our 
picket forces at Waynesboro', and, after a sharp skirmish, 
captured about fifty men of the third ]^ew Jersey. Some 
of these were subsequently retaken. The same day, 
our pickets at the bridge near Mount Crawford were at- 
tacked, and a heavy cannonade was kept up until the enemy 
desisted. On the 6th, Sheridan commenced to move back 
his command. The enemy promptly took the alarm, and 
on the 8th there was a brisk skirmishing between tlie 
enemy's cavalry under Rosser and ours under Merritt and 
Custer. Both parties had recourse, chiefly, however, to 
their artillery. The next day, the 9th, our forces being 
now near Fisher's Hill, Torbert was ordered to drive back 
the enemy from our rear. Merritt on the right, along the 



98 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

Winchester turnpike, and Custer on the left, advanced at 
daylight and routed the enemy, capturing the spoils which 
General Sheridan sets forth in his despatches. 

"Woodstock, Ya., October t, 1864 — 9 p. m. 
" Lieu TENANT- General U. S. Grant : 

" I have the honor to report my command at this point 
to-night. I commenced moving back from Port Republic, 
Mount Crawford, Bridgewater and Harrisonburg, yes- 
terday morning. 

"The grain and forage in advance of these points, had 
previously been destroj^ed. > 

" In moving back to this point, the whole country, from 
the Blue Ridge to the North Mountain, has been made 
entirely untenable for a rebel army. 

" I have destroyed over two thousand barns filled with 
wheat and hay and farming implements, over seventy 
mills filled with flour and wheat ; have driven in front of 
the army over four thousand head of stock, and have 
killed and issued to the troops, not less than three thou- 
sand sheep. 

" This destruction embraces the Luray valley and Little 
Fort valley, as well as the main valley. 

" A large number of horses have been obtained, a proper 
estimate of which I cannot now make. 

" Lieutenant John R. Meigs, my engineer officer, was 
murdered beyond Harrisonburg, near Dayton. For this 
atrocious act, all the houses within an area of five miles 
were burned. 

" Since I came into the valley from Harper's Ferry, 
every train, every small party, and every straggler, has 
been bushwhacked by the people, many of whom have 
protection passes from commanders who have been hitherto 
in that valley. 

" The people here are getting sick of the war. Hereto- 
fore, they have had no reason to complain, because they 
have been living in great abundance. 

" I have not been followed by the enemy to this point, 
with the exception of a small force of the rej)el cavalry, 
that showed themselves some distance behind my rear- 
guard to-day. 

"A party of one hundred of the eighth Ohio cavalry, 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 99 

which I had stationed at the bridge over the North Shen- 
andoah, near Mount Jackson, was attacked by McNeil, 
with seventeen men, while they were asleep, and the whole 
party dispersed or captured. I think they will all turn 
up. I learn that fifty-six of them had reached Winchester. 
McNeil was mortally wounded, and fell into our hands. 
This was fortunate, as he was the most daring and dan- 
gerous of all the bushwhackers in this section of the 
country. P. H. Sheridan, Major-GeneraV^ 



"Strasburg, Ya., Midnight, October 9, 1864. 
" To Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point: 
. " In coming back to this point, I was not followed up 
until late yesterday, when a large force of cavalry appeared 
in my rear. I then halted my command to offer battle by 
attacking the enemy. I became satisfied that it was only 
all the rebel cavalry of the valley, commanded by Rosser, 
and directed Torbert to attack at daylight this morning, 
and finish this * Saviour of the Valley.' The attack was 
handsomely made. Custer, commanding the third cav- 
alry division, charged on the back road, and Merritt, 
commanding the first cavalry division, on the Strasburg 
pike. Merritt captured five pieces of artillery. Custer 
captured six pieces of artillery, with caissons, battery 
forge, &c. The two divisions captured forty-seven wagons, 
ambulances, &c. Among the wagons captured, are the 
headquarters wagons of Rosser, Lomax, Wickham, and 
Colonel Pollard. The number of prisoners will be about 
three hundred and thirty. 

" The enemy, after being charged by our gallant cavalry, 
were broken and ran. They were followed bj^ our men 
on the jump twenty-six miles, through Mount Jackson 
and across the north fork of the Shenandoah. I deem it 
best to make this delay of one day here, and settle this 
new cavalry general. 

" The eleven pieces of artillery captured to-day, make 
thirty-six pieces captured in the Shenandoah valley since 
the 19th of September. Some of the artillery was new, 
and never had been fired. The pieces were marked 
* Tredegar Works.' 

"P. H. Sheridan, Major-QeneraV^ 



100 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

CONGRATULATION TO THE CAVALRY. 

" Headquarters Cavalry Corps, Middle) 
"Military Division, October 11, 1864.) 
"General Orders No. 13. 

" The chief of cavaliy desires to congratulate the officers 
and men of the cavalry of the middle military division for 
their unparalleled successes since the beginning of the 
campaign in the valley of the Shenandoah. 

" You have been called upon to endure many privations 
and hardships, and they have been borne with that heroic 
fortitude so necessary to insure to you the victories which 
have crowned your efforts. 

" In the battle of the 19th of September you not alone 
routed the enemy's cavalry, but gallantly charged their in- 
fantry, broke their lines, and captured many hundred 
prisoners, nine colors, and three guns. This success, 
followed by fatiguing marches, and harassing skirmishes 
and reconuoissances with an ever vigilant foe, and 
crowned by your unprecedented achievements on the 9th 
of October, when, having broken the entire body of their 
cavalry, you chased their routed columns over twenty 
miles, capturing eleven pieces of artillery, two colors, 
many prisoners, and their entire train, is a record which, 
by the blessing of- God, has contributed much to the re- 
nown of our arms and the success of our cause. 

" By command of Brevet Major- General Torbert. 

** Wm. Russell, Jr., Major and A. A. 6^." 



" Headquarters Middle Military Division,) 

''October U, 1864.3 

" The following has been received, and is published for 
the information of the army : 

"■ War Department, Washington, October 12 — 8 p. M. 
" Major-General Sheridan : 

" The Department tenders its thanks to you, and 
through you to Major-General Torbert, Generals Merritt 
and Custer, and the officers and soldiers under their eom- 
mand, for the brilliant victories on last Sunday by their 
gallantry over the rebel cavalry in the Shenandoah 
valley. Under gallant leaders your cavalry has become 
the efficient arm in this country that it has proved in other 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 101 

countries, and is winning by its exploits the admiration 
of the country and government. 

" Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. 

" By command of 3IaJor- General Sheridan. 

" C. Kingsbury, Jr., Ai^sistant Adjutant- General. ^^ ■ 



''Headquarters Cavalry Middle Division, "> 
" October 14, 1864. j 

" This despatch will be read at once at the head of 
"every regiment in this command. 

^^ By command of Major- General Torbert. 

"Wm. Russell, Jr., Assistant Adjutant- General.' ' 

BATTLE or CEDAR CREEK. 

Soon after midnight of Tuesday, August 18th, Early, 
having arranged his troops unperceived at Fisher's Hill, 
just beyond Strasburg, moved forward to the attack. 
The sharp rattle of musketry on the right, near the Mid- 
dle road, before daylight, made the camp aware that our 
cavalry pickets were engaged with the enemy's skir- 
mishers. But the firing died away, the movement in that 
quarter being in fact only a feint, and being regarded, 
also, as a demonstration like the previous one against 
Custer's pickets. The real attack was to fall upon our 
left. Kershaw's division was in Early's advance. March- 
ing southeasterly from Strasburg a short distance along 
the Manassas gap railroad, Kershaw, with a selected 
column, then turned northerly again on the small road 
which crosses the North Fork by a ford about a mile to 
the east of the junction of Cedar creek with that river. 
Before dawn of Wednesday, the 19th, he was across the 
ford and marching past the left flank of Crook's corps, 
directly in the latter's rear, the whole manoeuvre being 
accomplished in the chilly and foggy morning without the 
knowledge of our army. Meanwhile, the rest of Early's 
command had marched straight down the turnpike from 
Strasburg to Cedar creek, with equal silence and celerity, 



102 LIFE OF MAJOK-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

and, like the flanking column, without alarming our pickets 
or officers of the day. 

His positions being gained, close upon our picket line, 
the enemy, just before daybreak, rushed to the attack. 
So well protected was this flank with earthworks carrying 
artillery, that little fear had been entertained for it. But 
the enemy's noiseless advance and successful surprise 
counterbalanced the strength of the defences. Advancing 
in columns of regiments, he swept in upon Crook's picket 
line, and captured the greater part of it. Before the noise 
of the skirmishing had aroused the camp from its slumbers, 
the enemy's flanking column was fairly within the intrench- 
ments of the eighth corps, and was capturing prisoners 
in large numbers, amongst his captures being the second 
battalion fifth New York heavy artillery, which was on 
the picket line. Once inside the camp, the enemy rushed 
to seize the batteries, and succeeded in cutting off and 
capturing many pieces of artillery, before the latter could 
exchange a shot. The left division of Crook's corps was 
now thoroughly broken up, and Kitching's provisional 
division of heavy New York artillery, which lay in 
Crook's rear, suffered a similar calamity. General Crook 
and Colonel Kitching endeavored to rally their commands ; 
but the bewilderment of the troops in the unexpected at- 
tack, the large force of the enemy, and his success in turn- 
ing our flank unperceived, showed that he could not be 
checked at this point. 

Meanwhile, also. Early had emerged from behind the 
hills west of Cedar creek, where he lay concealed, and 
simultaneously with the attack in flank, rushed across the 
creek at the ford, and drove back Thorburn's division, 
which lay on the right of Crook's line, in front of the ford 
and against the turnpike. This combined movement suf- 
ficed to complete the disaster. The entire corps was 
routed, and the left flank of the army turned. Many of 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENEKAL SHERIDAN. 103 

the regiments, however, were rallied, and the whole com- 
mand falling back to the turnpike, was there got into line 
again as rapidly as possible, after the loss of many prison- 
ers. But the enemy had now got all his artillery in posi- 
tion on the high ridges on the westerly bank of the creek, 
and, with accurate range, was pouring shot and shell in 
great profusion into both the eighth and nineteenth corps. 
On this side of the creek, also, he continued his rapid ad- 
vance, elated at his success, and delivered a constant and 
murderous musketry fire into our recoiling line as he ad- 
vanced. He had soon gained and passed the turnpike, in 
his march along our line, and in heavy force, charged the 
batteries of the nineteenth corps. His impetuous attack 
was only too successful, and the left of the nineteenth 
corps also gave way, leaving a part of its artillery in his 
hands. Under this rapid musketry fire of the enemy in 
his vigorous advance, joined with his effective artillery 
from the opposite banks of the creek, and the fire from our 
own batteries which he had turned against us, our left 
and centre were thrown into confusion. Many prisoners 
were captured, and many casualties occurred in our ranks 
from his hot fire. All the trains were therefore started 
in haste along the turnpike to Winchester, and escaping 
capture, arrived there in safety. 

It was now broad day, and it appeared that our disas- 
ters had only begun. For the enemy, having succeeded 
in rolling up the left of the line, and in severing Powell's 
cavalry division on the extreme left from the rest of the 
army, was now forcing back the entire centre, and occu- 
pying the intrench ments of the nineteenth corps as he 
had those of the eighth. He had captured a large part 
of our artillery tilso — eighteen pieces thus far — and not 
only deprived us of these means of checking his advance, 
but, to our double calamity, turned them on our columns, 
materially precipitating the retreat. Nearly all of his 



104 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

force was on this side of the creek, and a part of the flank- 
ing column, turning off from the pursuit of the eighteenth 
corps, found itself in the rear of Grover's second division 
of the nineteenth corps, which formed Emory's left, and 
held the right or northerly side of the turnpike. Hasty 
dispositions toward a change of front were made, so as 
to hold the pike, but they were of no avail. Emory was 
flanked, in his turn, and gave away to the rear. The 
sixth corps had been already ordered over from its posi- 
' tion on the right, and quickly executed a change of front, 
which brought it at right angles to its former direction. 
Steadily holding this new line, the corps was soon en- 
gaged in desperate conflict, and, by its gallantry, served 
to check the enemy's impetuous rush. But, after all, it 
only availed to cover the general retreat, which was now 
ordered. The enemy was creeping up along the pike, 
and already approached Middletown. Great efforts were 
made to get away the trains of the two left corps, and 
most of those of the nineteenth were saved. Most of the 
ambulance train of the eighth corps was captured during 
the first hour of the engagement. In the retreat, and in 
the effort to cover our trains, our troops suffered severely 
from the fire of the enemy, who pursued closely and with 
great vigor. The enemy now increased both his artillery 
and musketry fire to its utmost capacity, till the roar and 
carnage became terrific. He still pressed our left flank, 
as if determined to drive us away from the turnpike, that 
he might seize our trains, and insert himself between us 
and Winchester. His projects were aided somewhat by 
the necessity forced upon us to spend much time in ma- 
noeuvring to reform the line, while he employed himself 
only in advancing and pouring in his destructive fire. 
As he pressed our left so much more hotl}^ than the right, 
the cavalry divisions of Merritt and Custer, were sent 
across thither from the right, and now a severe contest 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 105 

took place near Middletown, in the thickly wooded and 
rough country in which our left had found itself. 

It was now about nine o'clock, and our troops having 
got into line-of-battle again, were, for the first time, 
making desperate efforts to check the enemy. The eighth 
corps on the left, and the sixth in the centre, were re- 
ceiving. the brunt of the fierce onset. Merritt and Custer 
had also taken part in the thick of the battle. Both sides 
were using artillery as well as musketry, but the enemy 
brought to bear the greater weight of metal, having rein- 
forced their own batteries with our captured pieces. As 
the enemy's troops closed in on our own, it was clear that 
the momentum he had acquired was swinging him again 
past our flank. The flanking column of the enemy pressed 
severely upon Thorburn's division and other parts of 
Crook's corps, and once more forced it back. The sixth 
corps held its ground well, but the whole line was giving 
away, and the enemy gained Middletown. He continued 
to press us back toward Stephensburg or Newtown, 
which lies next below Middletown, on the turnpike, and 
about five miles distant therefrom. His artillery was 
served with accuracy from the heights north of Middle- 
town, which we had just vacated. Our principal aim 
henceforth was to successfully cover our trains and to 
draw away the army with as little loss as possible to 
Newtown, when another stand might be made, for General 
Wright had by no means despaired of the day. 

ARRIVAL OF GENERAL SHERIDAN— THE 
TIDE TURNED. 

At this time, about half- past ten o'clock, Sheridan 
rode upon the field from Winchester, where news of the 
battle had reached him. He had come in at great speed, 
being well assured by the sight that met him on the road 
that his presence was needed at the earliest moment. 



106 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

His arrival created great enthusiasm amongst both officers 
and men, to whom, in the general gloom, this was a ray 
of hope. He rode along the ranks, and was received 
everywhere with cheers. A temporary pause in the 
enemy's pursuit, and our own withdrawal from his fire, 
facilitated greatly the preparations to resist any further 
advance. These were promptly undertaken, just south 
of Newtown, between the latter point and Middletown. 
The line was left as Wright had formed it, except that 
one cavalry division, Custer's, was sent across to cover 
the right flank, where it was before the battle. 

The lull in the fierce fighting which had commenced 
soon after our retreat to Newtown and Sheridan's oppor- 
tune arrival, soon after noon came to an end. The enemy, 
having got his artillery up into range of our new position, 
now opened it with new vigor. About one o'clock, his 
troops were well in hand again, and once more came up 
on the charge. But tMs time he was doomed to disap- 
pointment. Our lines were ready, and, after a long and 
desperate struggle, repulsed him handsomely, and even 
followed him back for a short distance. General Bidwell 
was killed and General Grover wounded, in this renewal 
of the heavy engagement. From two o'clock till three 
there was no advance of importance on either side. In- 
cessant cannonading and the rattle of musketry filled up 
the hour ; but all attempts of the enemy to force us back 
were fruitless. 

About three o'clock, Sheridan determined to make a 
grand efi'ort to throw the enemy out of Middletown, which, 
up to that time, he held, and once more to regain our camp 
at Cedar creek. The sixth corps was drawn up in the 
centre, along the pike, with Getty's second division in 
advance. The other divisions supported. The eighth 
corps was re-formed on the left of the sixth, and the nine- 
teenth came up on its right, under cover of the woods. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENEKAL SHERIDAN. 107 

Merritt's first cavalry division was thrown out on the left 
flank, with Lowell's brigade in advance, and Deven fol- 
lowing closely. Custer was on the right flank. Between 
three and four o'clock, Getty dashed forward on the 
charge, and the remainder of the line followed. A tre- 
mendous fire of artillery and musketry greeted our troops 
as they burst out of the woods. For a time it seemed 
impossible to withstand it. Our lines once surged back, 
broken, but were again re-formed, and, while such of our 
own batteries as remained, answered the enemy with vigor 
and effect, the gallant troops again pressed on. Despite 
determined and bloody resistance, they carried the town, 
and drove the discomfited enemy through it. This was 
the crisis of the day, and from that moment victory was 
ours. The enemy at once began his retreat, and it was 
only a question how far our men would have strength 
enough to pursue him, and what spoil he would leave in 
our hands. In this last charge fell the gallant Colonel 
Lowell, who had greatly distinguished himself during this 
Shenandoah campaign. His brigade also behaved very 
handsomely during the present battle. 

The sixth and nineteenth corps and the cavalry now 
pressed the enemy from Middletown to Cedar creek. In 
his haste he threw away guns, haversacks, clothing, and 
other debris of a routed army. No time was given him 
to pause. The infantry were thrown rapidly into column 
for the pursuit, and the cavalry charged across the open 
fields. At Cedar ofeek the enemy attempted at last to 
hold us in check, and planted his batteries on the opposite 
banks, to hold the bridge and fords. But our forces 
pressed on, carried the fords and bridge, and drove him 
from the creek through Strasburg to Fisher's Hill. The 
cavalry distinguished itself in getting across the creek 
under fire. The briskness of the pursuit caused the 
enemy to abandon large quantities of cannon, caissons, 



108 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

and wagons, and threw his whole rear into confusion. In 
fact our troops had now a fair offset for their own defeat 
in the morning, and the enemy was put to flight in quite 
as much rapidity and disorganization as he had visited 
upon us at daybreak, and with much greater loss of mate- 
rial. The desperately resisted but successful charge at 
Middletown was, in fact,, the turning point of the day. 
The enemy was put to flight, and all that was required 
was to pursue, and pick up prisoners and spoils. The 
hard fighting was over, and the loss which followed fell 
upon the enemy. The cavalry proved now of great 
assistance, and the enemy, in his haste to get away, aban- 
doned all the cannon he had captured and much of his 
own. Our camp equipage fell into our hands again, and 
in fact, at each step the cavalry found cannon, caissons, 
small arms, or other material, and prisoners ready to be 
captured without a struggle. 

From the arrival of Sheridan and the turn of the tide, 
we gained back nearly all that had been lost — except the 
prisoners and the small amount destroyed or carried 6S by 
the enemy — and captured still more than we had lost. 
The most accurate estimate gives our total captures and 
re-captures as follows : — twelve hundred men, sixty-four 
officers, forty-eight cannon, forty caissons, three battery 
wagons, three hundred and ninety-eight horses and mules, 
with harness, sixty-five ambulances, fifty wagons, fifteen 
thousand rounds of artillery ammunition, fifteen hundred 
and eighty small arms, many medical stores of the enemy, 
besides our own, ten battle flags, and some smaller cap- 
tures of stores. One of the enemy's papers, admitting 
the defeat, says : 

"All of the camp equipage captured on the creek in the 
morning was retaken by the enemy, and at Strasburg the 
captured artillery becoming, by the demoralization of the 
drivers, mixed up in the street with some ten or twelve 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 109 

pieces of our own, the whole of it was abandoned. The 
prisoners we had taken, the most useless and unaccept- 
able of our captures, were alone left to us as trophies of 
the morning. By night our army was in New Market, 
worn with fatigue, and perplexed and mortified with the 
results of the day's operation, but growing cheerful by 
degrees, and sanguine of ' better luck the next time.' 
Our loss in men was not heavy. In this respect there is 
some consolation in knowing that the enemy suffered by 
far the heavier. In the morning's operations the slaughter 
of the enemy is represented as having been very great." 

A part of our infantry reached Strasburg, but the main 
army bivouacked in the old camp along Cedar creek. 
The cavalry dashed through Strasburg to Fisher's Hill, 
and there stopped the victorious march. Wright having 
fallen, we pursued only three or four miles beyond the old 
camp ground. 

It was on the decisive and glorious results of this hard- 
earned victory, that the following spirited poem was pro- 
duced by Mr. Thomas Buchanan Read : 

SHERIDAN'S RIDE. 

BY THOMAS BUCHANAN READ. 

Up from the South at break of day, 
Bringing from Winchester fresh dismay, 
The affrighted air with a shudder bore. 
Like a herald in baste, to the chieftain's door, 
The terrible grumble, and rumble, and roar, 
Telling the battle was on once more, 
And Sheridan twenty miles away. 

And wider still those billows of war 
Thundered along the horizon's bar ; 
And louder yet into Winchester rolled 
The roar of that red sea uncontrolled. 
Making the blood of the listener cold, 



110 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

As he thought of the stake in that fiery fray, 
And Sheridan twenty miles away. 

But there is a road from Winchester town, 

A good, broad highway leading down ; 

And there, through the flush of the morning light, 

A steed, as black as the steeds of night 

"Was seen to pass, as with eagle flight, 

As if he knew the terrible need ; 

He stretched away with his utmost speed ; 

Hills rose and fell, but his heart was gay, 

With Sheridan fifteen miles away. 

Still sprung from those swift hoofs, thundering South, 
The dust, like the smoke from the cannon's mouth ; 
Or the trail of a comet, sweeping faster and faster. 
Foreboding to traitors the doom of disaster. 
The heart of the steed and the heart of the master 
Were beating like prisoners assaulting their walls. 
Impatient to be where the battle-field calls ; 
Every nerve of the charger was strained to full play, 
With Sheridan only ten miles away. 

Under his spurning feet, the road 

Like an arrowy Alpine river flowed, 

And the landscape sped away behind 

Like an ocean flying before the wind ; 

And the steed, like a bark fed with furnace ire, 

Swept on, with his wild eyes full of fire. 

But lo ! he is nearing his heart's desire ; 

He is snuflGing the smoke of the roaring fray, 

With Sheridan only five miles away. 

The first that the General saw were the groups 
Of stragglers, and then the retreating troops ; — 
What was done — what to do — a glance told him both ; 
Then striking his spurs, with a terrible oath. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. Ill 

He dashed down the line 'mid a storm of huzzas, 
And the wave of retreat checked its course there, because 
The sight of its master compelled it to pause. 
With foam and with dust the black charger was gray ; 
By the flash of his eye, and his red nostril's play, 
He seemed to the whole great army to say : 
" I have brought you Sheridan all the way 
From Winchester, down to save the day !" 

Hurrah, hurrah for Sheridan I 

Hurrah, hurrah for horse and man! 

And when their statues are placed on high, 

Under the dome of the Union sky, 

The American Soldiers' Temple of Fame, 

There with the glorious General's name, 

Be it said, in letters both bold and bright, 

" Here is the steed that saved the day. 
By carrying Sheridan into the fight, 

From Winchester — twenty miles away!"* 

A characteristic despatch from General Sheridan was 

issued from the War Department : 

" Cedar Creek, Ya.,} 
''FHday, Oct. 21, 1864—4 p. m. ]* 
" Lieutenant- General U. S. Grant, City Point, Va. 

" I pursued the routed force of the enemy nearly to 
Mount Jackson, which point he reached during the night 
of the 19th and 20th, without an organized regiment of 
his army. From the accounts of our prisoners who have 
escaped, and citizens, the rout was complete. About two 
thousand of the enemy broke and made their way down 
through the mountains on the left. 

" Fourteen miles on the line of retreat, the road and 
country were covered with small arms thrown away by 
the flying rebels, and other debris. Forty-eight pieces of 
. "- <- 

* As a fitting compliment to tlie author of this magnificent 
lyric, General Sheridan has named " the black charger" Read. 



112 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAK. 

captured artillery are now at my headquarters. I think 
that no less than three hundred wagons and ambulances 
were either captured or destroyed. The accident of the 
morning turned to our advantage as much as though the 
whole movement had been planned. The only regret I 
have, is the capture in early morning of from eight hun- 
dred to one thousand men. 

'' I am now sending to the War Department ten battle 
flags. The loss of artillery in the morning, was seven 
from Crook, eleven from Emory, six from Wright. From 
all that I can learn, I think that Early's reinforcements 
were not less than sixteen thousand men. 

*' P. H. Sheridan, Major -General.-'' 

The Army and Navy Journal, commenting on the 
position of things at this time, and the course of General 
Sheridan, adds : 

The recent withdrawal of our army to Kernstown, five 
miles south of Winchester, produced a corresponding 
advance of Early to Strasburg, and thence across the 
famous Cedar creek. Without waiting, however, to try 
the test of a battle, Early moved back again to Fisher's 
Hill. He may possibly use this strong position as a base 
for future operations. But even could he advance to Win- 
chester, and take that place, he would find it a meagre 
position for winter quarters, since all the country between 
him and his railroad base is stripped and desolate. His 
only hope would be to recover lost prestige by a single 
coup — an attempt to which Sheridan would put insuperable 
objections. 

The change in the position of the armies, however, was 
accompanied by spirited engagements for a day or two'; 
then hostilities subsided into those guerrilla operations 
which constantly disturb the quiet of the valley. Early, 
it is said, had heard that Sheridan was to detach, tempo- 
rarily or permanently, a corps from his command. The 
retrograde movement from Cedar Creek gave additional 



/ 



LIFE OF MAJOR- GENERAL SHERIDAN. 113 

color to this idea. The enemj, therefore, sent a part of 
his cavalry to Wordensville, to threaten our right and rear, 
and to pillage, also, such supplies as could be found. On 
the 11th, he moved part of his forces briskly after Sheri- 
dan, whose march to Kernstown we have already described. 
On the left was Rosser's cavalry division, already thrown 
out in that direction, and on the right was Lomax's division, 
which marched to Front Royal, while Kershaw's infantry 
division kept the Winchester turnpike, and arrived at 
night at Newton, confronting Sheridan's position at the 
next point, Kernstown. Some reconnoissances, attended 
with unimportant skirmishes, were made the same night 
by the enemy's cavalry. 

The next day, Saturday, the 12th, our entire cavalry 
force moved out to reconnoitre the enemy's new position. 
Merritt's division took the turnpike, with Custer's on his 
right, and Powell's on his left, the latter striking off on the 
road to Front Royal. Powell soon after noon was beyond 
the Opequan, holding the pike. About the middle of *he 
afternoon, he sent forward one brigade, which encountered 
Lomax near the small village of Ninevah, and skirmished 
with him. A second brigade was then sent forward, and 
the first drawn into line. The enemy at once rushed 
forward on a determined charge, but was met and checked 
by our men, who advanced in turn, and after a brisk 
encounter drove him, and pursued him a long distance 
toward Port Royal. In this affair we captured two can- 
non and caissons, two colors, over one hundred and fifty 
prisoners, including twenty officers, and some horses. 
Several of Early's officers also, including Lieutenant- 
Colonel Marshall, were killed. Our total loss was less 
than thirty, while the enemy's was probably greater. The 
enemy's division consisted of about ten regiments. 

On the right, Custer was moving down the Middle road, 
and the one between that and the turnpike, while Merritt 



lli LIFE OF MAJOE-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

took the turnpike. Caster skirmished briskly all day, 
moving slowly but steadily back to Cedar creek. Our 
losses were in Custer's division, about fifty in killed and 
woun(^ed, including Colonel Hull, killed. The division 
captured twenty or thirty prisoners, and lost from one 
hundred and thirty to one hundred and fifty. Merritt had 
a similar experience of constant skirmishing, with a loss 
of about forty men killed and wounded. He did not 
advance far, however, finding Kershaw's division in his 
front, and superior to his own. In a word, therefore, our 
cavalry had pressed the enemy, without forcing a general 
engagement. At night it retired toward its old position, 
having completed the reconnoissance. It is probable that 
the enemy's cavalry was also engaged in reconnoitering 
"svhen ours encountered it. That night the enemy retired 
across Cedar creek, and carried his whole army back to 
Fisher's Hill, as our cavalry discovered on the following 
morning. The enemy's movement seems to have been a 
reconnoissance, and his withdrawal commenced on the 
afternoon of the 12th, during the cavalry skirmishing. 
Our cavalry have since reconnoitered to Strasburg, 
ascertaining that the enemy's main force is either at New 
Market again, or, at all events, not nearer us than Fisher's 
Hill. His entire army did not equal fifteen thousand 
men, and it had received no reinforcements, except a few 
poorly equipped recruits. Our loss in the cavalry corps 
was about two hundred and fifty men, of which the ma- 
jority were prisoners. The enemy's report is that Rosser 
drove our forces back, inflicting a greater loss than he 
suffered, and capturing two hundred prisoners. In effect, 
as we have said, the enemy's losses were slightly heavier 
than ours, and he was driven from his ground, leaving 
two cannon and some wagons behind him. 

Since Early's withdrawal, our cavalry have held tho 
country to Cedar creek, and have reconnoitered beyond 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 115 

the creek, meeting and skirmishing with the enemy's 
cavalry. There have been many guerrilla attacks also in 
our rear, between Winchester and Martinsburg. On the 
16th, Sergeant Schafifner and fifteen men were attacked 
by Montgomery's company of Mosby's men, near the 
Opequan. Schaffner was killed, six of his men killed and 
wounded, and the rest captured ; but afterwards recap- 
tured by the Fifteenth Michigan. The enemy reports 
that on the 10th Kinchelo's partisan rangers wounded 
and captured several of our cavalry scouts. On the lYth, 
a detachment of Powell's division found on reconnoitering, 
that Lomax was between Milford and Luray. A few 
prisoners were captured by us the same day, among them 
Captain Hobson. On the Martinsburgh turnpike, on the 
15th, several of our soldiers were killed by guerrillas ; 
and on the next day twenty-five of our cavalrymen were 
surprised by guerrillas, two killed, two wounded, and the 
rest captured. Similar encounters take place frequently 
in the valley, where Mosby's men have large liberty. 
The enemy reports that McNeil captured twenty-three 
of our men on the 1st inst., in Hampshire county — two 
or three men also being killed and wounded in the 
encounter on each side. On the 18th, it is reported 
Captain Blazear with about sixty men, was defeated by 
guerrillas, and most of his men captured. The fact that a 
few guerrillas crossed the Potomac caused the formation of 
militia companies in some Pennsylvania border towns. 

It was at Fisher's Hill that Sheridan paused in his first 
advance up the valley, and from which he turned back to 
Harper's Ferry. But then Early had not been defeated, 
and was demonstrative and aggressive. Had Early been 
able to withdraw to Fisher's Hill at the outset, and there 
fight the battle he fought at Winchester, he might have 
suffered less himself, and inflicted a severer blow on his 
7 



IIG LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

adversary. But even Fisher's Hill failed to protect him, 
exhausted dnd shattered by the disaster at Winchester. 
Nor is Fisher's Hill the formidable position it at first 
appears. Almost impregnable to assault, it yet can be easily 
turned. Sheridan found in his second experiment that he 
^ could flank it, especially when his troops were flushed 
with success. 

From Fisher's Hill Early found his way to Brown's 
gap, and there held a strong and almost impregnable 
position. Intrenchments were thrown up, and every 
thing prepared for a determined stand. At Brown's 
gap Early enjoyed unusual facilities for defence. It is 
situated in the Blue Ridge. North of it are Swift Run 
and Semon's gaps ; south of it, Rockfish gap and Jaman's 
gaps. All of these are so near together that Early 
easily held them under his control, posting his main force 
at Brown's gap, and throwing his flanks out as far as 
Rockfish gap and Swift Run gap. These are the gate- 
ways to Gordonsville and Charlottesville from Staunton 
and Harrisonburg. He held them firmly, and was dis- 
posed not to surrender them without a decisive battle. 
Sheridan, following him quickly up the valley, halted at 
Harrisonburg, and threw his cavalry out to Cross Keys 
and Port Republic. The latter attempted twice or thrice 
to carry the gap ; or, rather, reconnoitered it in force, to 
discover its strength. They were handled so roughly by 
Early's troops that it was very evident the enemy had re- 
covered his equilibrium again, and was disposed to con- 
test every rod of the way. It was also discovered that 
Early was very strongly posted in the gap. 

Early now threw his own cavalry out in front of his 
position, and several times assumed the ofi'ensive, once 
barely missing success in flanking Powell's division, and 
accelerating our withdrawal from Port Republic to Cross 
Keyes. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 117 

It was now evident, however, tbat for Sheridan a 
choice of two things remained — either to prosecute his 
advance toward Lynchburg, or to retire down the valley. 

It may be asked why Sheridan did not choose the 
other alternative, and why, not contenting himself with 
severely defeating Early in a series of pitched battles, he 
did not make further progress up the valley. The reason 
may be found probably in his definite instructions from 
General Grant, although, of course, the country does not 
yet know officially what those instructions were. It must 
be confessed, also, that Sheridan found himself in a posi- 
tion where it would have been rather hazardous to go 
ahead. He had but two paths before him — one straight 
up the valley, in order to strike Lynchburg in that way. 
In that case he w^ould probably have seized first Staun- 
ton, and then Lexington, and then crossing the Blue 
Ridge through Irish Creek gap, or Robertson's gap, he 
would have been quickly before Lynchburg. Or, he 
might have marched easterly through one of the gaps 
lying directly in his front, and deserting the Shenandoah 
valley, have continued the campaign east of the Blue 
Ridge. In favor of this latter scheme was one obvious 
advantage. He would threaten simultaneously several 
important points — Orange Court House, Gordonsville, 
Charlottesville, and Lynchburg. The latter, of course, is 
the most important. But to seize Gordonsville, the base 
of so many of Lee's operations, and Orange Court House, 
in front of which this grand Virginia campaign so mag- 
nificently opened, to capture the enemy's supplies and 
materials there, and once more strike and destroy the 
Virginia Central road, was no mean undertaking. 

To each of these schemes there were obstacles. The 
first would obviously leave Early directly on our flank, 
intact and alert. Sheridan would not have passed above' 
Staunton before his opponent, descending from his eyrie 



118 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

at Brown's gap, would have struck his rear, ruined his 
communications, and forced a sudden retreat. The objec- 
tion to the plan was the direct presence of Early in our 
front. He also had seen the advantage of crossing the 
Blue Ridge toward Gordonsville and Charlottesville. 
He therefore disposed himself strongly to resist us. A 
few sharp encounters showed that his reported weakness 
had been exaggerated : that he had recovered from his 
severe defeats, and was daily getting reinforcements. It 
being obvious, therefore, that no more was to be gained 
in the region of Cross Keys and Port Republic, it ob- 
viously remained only to fall back down the valley to 
some point which could be easily and firmly held. The 
desperate and audacious raids of guerrilla bands between 
Strasburg and the Potomac, under the lead of the ubiqui- 
tous Mosby, of White, and other partisan chieftains, made 
this change of position still more desirable. Finally, 
Sheridan's winter supplies were on the way. It was 
necessary to fall back and meet them, lest they should be 
captured. The great victory of Cedar creek has not only 
justified the strategy of Sheridan in retreating, but has 
once more convicted the enemy of rashness, and added to 
the growing laurels of the Union general. 

CONGRATULATORY ORDER. 

''Headquarters Second Brigade, First Cav. Uiv.,) 
"Middle Military Di v., Nov. 6, 1864. j 

*' Soldiers : — The Brevet Brigadier-General Command- 
ing feels that he should not allow the present opportunity 
to pass without referring to and recalling the operations 
of his brigade during the late engagements. 

"Rapidly transferred from the army of the Potomac to 
the Shenandoah valley, you, on the second day's march, 
engaged a brigade of mounted infantry, and in pbe hour 
drove them from two strong positions in utter rout. Again, 
at Front Royal, Smithfieid, Kearneysville and Shepherds- 
town, your sturdy arms and keen sabres on each occasion 
hurled back the serried masses of the foe. At the battle 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 119 

of Opequan, after charging and routing a superior force of 
the enemy's cavalry, in your front, you whirled lil^e a 
thunderbolt on the left of his infantry lines, and rode them 
down in the face of a withering fire, in two successive 
charges, capturing over five hundred prisoners and five 
battle flags. 

" When detached from the division, and in advance 
during the long pursuit of Early's army from Fisher's Hill 
to Port Republic, your gallantry and daring while pressing 
the enemy called forth the highest praise. In the action 
of the 9th of October, taking the advance near Edingburg, 
you drove Lomax's division * whirling' through Mount 
Jackson and across the Shenandoah, capturing his last gun 
and his train. 

" On the memorable 19th of October the crowning glory 
was reserved for you of pursuing the enemy and reaping 
the fruits of that brilliant victory. After sturdily fip^hting 
from early morn with the gallant old division to which you 
are attached, in its successful efforts to check and finally 
drive the enemy's right, you dashed across the bridge over 
Cedar creek under a heavy fire, charging and completely 
smashing the enemy's rear guard. Darkness did not relax 
your efforts, but on you pushed, capturing guns, trains and 
prisoners, until, at near midnight, you had reached Fisher's 
Hill, eight miles from the battle-field. 

" At early dawn you charged and drove the enemy's 
cavalry from the hill and pushed on to "Woodstock after 
the fast flying foe, who could not again be overtaken. 

" Twenty-two of the forty-three guns captured by the 
cavalry, fifty-nine wagons and ambulances, over four hun- 
dred prisoners (including a number of officers,) and two 
battle-flags, were the trophies of your success. 

" You have captured, during this short campaign, 
twenty-four guns, nine battle-flags in action, and over one 
thousand prisoners. 

" This brilliant success has not been effected without 
severe loss. One-third of your number, including forty 
officers, have been killed or wounded. They have fallen 
nobly at their post of duty. 

" Praise from me is superfluous. The record of your 
deeds is sufficient. You have done your duty, and the 
brigade has maintained its old reputation. 

"Thomas C. Deye::^, Bi-evet Bi^igadier- General." 



120 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

The grateful feeling of the country toward G^eral 
Sheridan and his brave command, is implied in the follow- 
ing brief notes : 

" Dear Sir : — Your telegram advising me of the ship- 
ment of six thousand turkeys for the thanksgiving dinner 
of this array is received. Permit me in behalf of the sol- 
diers to thank the good people of New York and the 
country for their kindness, and to assure them that for the 
occasion a no more acceptable present could have been 
made. Orders have been issued for the equal distribution 
on arrival. P. H. Sheridan, Major- General,''^ 



::} 



" Headquarters Middle Military Division, 
" In the Field, Nov. 13, 1864. 

" J. Foster Jenkins, General Secretary United States 

Sanitary Commission : 

" Dear Sir : — Yours of October 31, advising me of my 
having been elected an associate member of the United 
States Sanitary Commission, is received. I have the 
honor to thank you for the compliment paid me, and in 
behalf of the sick and wounded of this army to acknowl- 
edge the many benefits derived from your charitable 
association. 

" I am, sir, yours, truly, 

"P. H. Sheridan, llajor- General." 

THE DEVASTATION OF THE VALLEY. 

Some evidence of the terror struck to the rebels by these 
victories of Sheridan, will be found in the following extract 
from one of the journals of the rebel capital — the Kich- 
mond Whig of October 15, 1864 : 

" Sheridan reports to Grant that in moving down the 
valley to Woodstock, he has burned over two thousand 
barns filled with wheat, hay, and farming implements, and 
over seventy mills filled with flour and wheat. This was 
done by order of Grant himself, commander of all the 
Yankee armies. It is only the execution of part of the 
order to destroy every thing in the valley that will sustain 
life. The fell work is still going on. Now, it is an idle 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 121 

waste of words to denounce this sort of war. We have 
simply to regard it as a practical matter, and ask ourselves 
how it is to be met. There is one effectual way, and only 
one we know of, to arrest and prevent this and every 
other sort of atrocity — and that is, to burn one of the 
chief cities of the enemy, say Boston, Philadelphia, or 
Cincinnati, and let its fate hang over the others as a warn 
ing of what may be done and will be done to them if the 
present system of war on the part of the enemy is con 
tinued. If we are asked how such a thing can be done, 
we answer nothing would be easier. A million of dollars 
would lay the proudest city of the enemy in ashes. The 
men to execute the work are already there. There would 
be no difficulty in finding there, here, or in Canada, suita- 
ble persons to take charge of the enterprise, and arrange 
its details. Twenty men, with plans all preconcerted, and 
means provided, selecting some dry, windy night, might 
fire Boston in a hundred places, and wrap it in flames 
from centre to suburbs. They might retaliate on Rich- 
mond, Charleston, etc. Let them do so if they dare. It 
is a game at which we can beat them. New York is 
worth twenty Bichmonds. They have a dozen towns to 
our one, and in their towns is centered nearly all their 
wealth. It would not be immoral and barbarous. It is not 
immoral or barbarous to defend yourself by any means or 
with any weapon the enemy may employ for your destruc- 
tion. They choose to substitute the torch for the sword. 
We may so us6 their own weapon as to make them re- 
pent, literally in sackcloth and ashes, that they ever 
adopted it. If the Executive is not ready for this, we 
commend the matter to the secret deliberation of the Con* 
gress about to meet." 

SHERIDAN AS A GUN TAKER. 
Alluding to his brilliant success in capturing cannona 
from the enemy, the Army and Navy Journal of November 
26, 1864, says : 



122 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

" General Sheridan seems inclined to emulate, in his 
Shenandoah campaign, the reputation of General Grant, 
as the great gun-taker of the war. Before the present 
campaign, the Lieutenant-General had got well into the 
hundreds in the number of his captured cannon — exactly 
how far we forgot, but the figure approached half a thou- 
sand. Official reports from the cavalry corps of the Shen- 
andoah army, have lately set forth the number of cannon 
captured from the unhappy Early, — though, by the way, 
we must caution some readers not to be verdant enough 
to suppose that the cavalry divisions have charged all the 
batteries, or done all the bloody fighting, or suffered all 
the losses in the campaign, merely because they share 
with each other the captures of flags and cannon. The 
infantry must have a tithe of praise too, though the 
horsemen were the swiftest in picking up the spoils, 
which, at the end of a hard fight, the ruined enemy dropped 
in his flight. At all events it is clear that Sheridan now 
counts his captured artillery with three figures, and, like 
Grant, is among 'the hundreds.' What singular magnet 
he possesses for attracting Early's ordnance must be a 
perpetual mystery to the Tredegar workmen, whose main 
occupation of late, seems to be turning out guns for him 
to lose. A press correspondent from the valley humor- 
ously relates that new batteries have lately been sent to 
Early from Richmond, and that they came marked 
' Lieutenant-General Early,' whereupon some malicious 
wag wrote over this direction the words, ' Major-General 
Philip Sheridan, care of Uncle Sam.' '* 



CHAPTER XL * 

THE GREAT VIRGINIA RAID. 



During the first week in December, 1864, Merritt's 
(first) cavalry division crossed the Blue Ridge, and made 
a grand raid through the upper parts of Loudon and Fau- 
quier counties, which were the chief haunts of Mosby and 
his men. Every thing was laid waste, barns, houses^ 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 123 

farms and mills ; many cattle were captured, and others 
slaughtered and burned. Most of the people were sym- 
pathizers with Mosby, so that the damage chiejQy fell upon 
the enemy. The raid was in accordance with the policy 
initiated by Grant and Sheridan, and its results, officially 
reported, are as follows : 

PROPERTY CAPTURED. 

1st Brigade. 2d Brigade. Res. Brigade. Total. 

Horses 147 235 86 388 

Mules 4 4 8 

Cattle 2,563 2,483 414 5,520 

Sheep 3,60*7 2,130 100 5,837 

Swine 1,033 110 1,141 

PROPERTY DESTROYED. 

Barns 474 464 230 1,168 

Mills 19 22 8 49 

Factories, 2 2 

Distilleries 14 16 

Tons of hay 17,620 10,000 27,620 

Bushels of wheat 26,500 25,000 51,500 

Bushels of corn 5,400 57,500 62,900 

Bushels of oats 2,000 2,002 

Haystacks 990 131 1,121 

Wheatstacks 57 57 

Tanneries 1 1 

Stacks of grain 104 104 

Estimated value of property destroyed and captured by 

first brigade. Colonel Stagg $857,716 

Second brigade, General Deven 1,239,520 

Reserve brigade 411,520 

Total $2,508,756 

Perhaps the statement of a rebel commissioner of the 
revenue in Shenandoah county, made about the same 
time, will give a clearer idea of Sheridan's previous 
cavalry operations in that county alone. He says : 

" I will now try to give you some idea of the damage 
done in part of this county by the Yankees in the way of 



12tt LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

burning of barns, mills, &c. I have been over nearly the 
whole of my district, comprising all the upper end of the 
county, from Narrow Passage creek to the Rockingham 
county line, and I find there have been burned by Sheri- 
dan's army two hundred and fifteen barns, eighteen dwell- 
ings, eleven grist mills, nine water sawmills, two steam 
sawmills, one furnace, two forges, one fulling mill, one 
carding machine, besides a number of smaller buildings, 
such as stables, &c. The quantity of grain destroyed is 
immense. I cannot give you any idea of the amount of 
grain, hay, fodder, &c,, destroyed, but the quantity is very 
large." 

On Monday, the 18th, an expedition, consisting of 
Merritt's (first) and Powell's (second) cavalry divisions, 
the former temporarily under Deven, and the whole under 
Torbert, left the camp at Winchester. The expedition 
had been carefully prepared for some days, and the troops 
took six days' rations and one day's forage. No artillery 
was carried, and an unusually short train, considering that 
it was a cavalry raid. Deven, in advance, was off at day- 
light, and the expedition marched briskly, though in a 
heav^y rain-storm. At noon, the north fork of the Shenan- 
doah was reached and forded, and Front Royal passed ; 
the column bivouacked at Chester gap, after a march of 
twenty-five miles. A cold and heavy gale during the 
night blew up a frost. But the troops started at daylight 
again, on the 19th, and for the first part of the march 
were ordered to ride two miles and walk one, till the sun 
appeared to warm the atmosphere. A detachment under 
Captain Faron, of the twenty-first New York, scouting 
for that purpose, overtook and captured a herd of cattle, 
which was under charge of the enemy's soldiers, the 
guard escaping. Several prisoners were picked up here 
and there during the day. The troops marched that day 
through Sperryville. The third day, the 20th, opened 
with hail and rain. The troops were hurried forward, 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 125 

however, and reaching Creighsville, found McCausland's 
camp-fires there still burning. Powell encamped there, 
Deven keeping on to Madison Court House, six miles dis- 
tant. At the latter point, Stagg's Michigan brigade, in 
Deven's advance, encountered the enemy's pickets, and 
drove them back, in a sharp skirmish, through the town. 

The enemy's loss was thirteen, including a major and 
captain, the former killed. Ours was still less. Oq the 
morning of Wednesday, the 21st, which was clear and 
cold, Powell, in advance, started from Madison Court 
House. Soon after, Tibbett's brigade overtook the enemy, 
who had retreated on Stannardsville, and drove him rap- 
idly. The enemy, under Lomax, retreated over the bridge 
which crosses the Rapid an to Liberty mills, and fired it, 
checking our pursuit, and then opened from the high 
grounds beyond with artillery. A reconnoissance was 
made, and as its result, Kellogg's brigade of Deven's 
division crossed the river by a ford on the right, and 
Cafhart's brigade of Powell's division on the left. The 
right had some sharp skirmishing, but the left met little 
opposition in crossing. The enemy, however, fell back 
once more, to avoid flanking, and Cafhart attacked him 
with spirit, Kellogg on the right being equally prompt. 

Next morning, Thursday, the 22d, the enemy's two guns 
were found abandoned, with full ammunition-chests, and 
horses. Kellogg pushed on to within two or three miles 
of Gordonsville. There he found the enemy very strongly 
posted in a narrow pass on the turnpike road. Torbert 
accordingly turned about and retraced his steps to Madi- 
son Court House, and thence to Warrenton. Deven 
marched thence through Salem to Ashby's gap and Mill- 
wood, and back to Winchester. Powell marched through 
New Baltimore, White Plains, Middleburg, Snickersville, 
and Perrysville, to Winchester. Both columns destroyed 
forage and cattle on their route, with such other devasta- 



126 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

tion as was possible. They were harassed a little on their 
return by the enemy, who promptly issued from Gordons- 
ville, but no damage of importance was done to either 
column. The raid seems to have been quite successful. 
Our total loss was probably only about fifty men. Our 
last cavalry fight is the one which the enemy describes as 
occurring at Jack's shop, seven and a-half miles from 
Gordonsville. He says that there are no government 
stores or property of any kind at Gordonsville, and all 
we could do there would be to burn the empty buildings, 
and break the track and switches. 

On Mouday, the 19th, a co-operative cavalry column, 
consisting of Custer's division, moved out from camp on 
a reconnoissance up the valley. A party of scouts under 
Major Young, preceded the column, and skirmished on 
Monday and Tuesday with the enemy's pickets, capturing 
a few of them. On Tuesday night, the 20th, the column 
had reached and bivouacked at Lacey's spring, nine miles 
from Harrisonburg. Just before daylight, next morning, 
the camp was surprised by Rosser's cavalry, and forty or 
fifty of the first New Hampshire, on picket duty, were 
captured. Both brigades, Pennington's first and Chap- 
man's second, became sharply engaged, and eventually 
fell back down the turnpike — our total loss, however, 
being only two killed and twenty-two wounded, with 
about forty prisoners. The advance of an infantry column 
of the enemy is said to have been the cause of our falling 
back. The enemy were dressed in blue overcoats, proba- 
bly captured ones, and much confusion resulted, of course, 
in the fighting. His loss was about the same as ours in 
killed and wounded. He used the sabre chiefly, as the 
wounds of our men attested. The column returned to 
Winchester without further adventure. 

Soon after the events now recorded, the entire sixth 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 127 

corps was withdrawD from Sheridan, and sent to Grant at 
Richmond. 

MARCH TO LYNCHBURG. 

On Monday, the 27th of February, 1865, Sheridan's 
column commenced its march from the camp near Win- 
chester. General Hancock was placed in charge of the 
Middle Military Division, during the absence of General 
Sheridan, with headquarters at Winchester. During the 
first twenty-four hours, Sheridan marched to Woodstock, 
a distance of thirty miles. Keeping straight up the val- 
ley, he reached Waynesboro' on Thursday. There Early 
first offered effective resistance. A battle took place 
near Waynesboro', and it resulted in an entire victory for 
Sheridan, who captured one thousand three hundred prison- 
ers, eight cannon, and about one hundred wagons. 

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. 

" War Department, ") 

''Washington, March 5, 1865—8 P. M.) 
** Major- General Dix, New York : 

" The following despatches in relation to the reported 
defeat and capture of General Early by Sheridan, and the 
capture of Charlottesville, have been received by this De- 
partment. General Sheridan and his forces commenced 
their movement last Monday, and were at Staunton when 
last heard from. Major-General Hancock was placed in 
charge of the Middle Military Division, during the ab- 
sence of General Sheridan, headquarters at Winchester. 
{Signed) " E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War.^^ 

• " City Point, Ya., March 5—11 A.M. 

*' To Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 

" Deserters in this morning report that Sheridan has 
routed Early and captured Charlottesville. They report 
four regiments having gone from here to reinforce Early. 
{Signed) "U. S. Gn ant, LietUenant-GeneraV^ 



128 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENEEAL SHERIDAN. 

" City Point, Ya., March 5 — 2 P. M. 
" Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 

" Deserters from every point of the enemj^'s line confirm 
the capture of Charlottesville by General Sheridan. They 
say he captured General Early and nearly his entire force, 
consisting of one thousand eight hundred. Four brigades 
are reported as being sent to Lynchburg, to get there 
before General Sheridan, if possible. 

(Signed) "U. S. Grant, Lieutenant- GeneraV^ 

" City Point, Ya., March 5—4 P. M. 
" Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 

" Refugees confirm the statements of deserters as to 
the capture of General Early and nearly his entire force. 
They say it took place on Thursday last, between Staun- 
ton and Charlottesville, and that the defeat was total. 
(Signed) " U. S. Q^ViKUT, Lieutenant- General.''^ 

''Headquarters Middle Military Division,") 
" Columbia, Ya., Friday, March 10, 1865. | 
" Lieutenant- General TJ. S. Grant, Commariding Armies 
of the United States : 

".General: — In my despatch dated Waynesboro', I 
gave you a brief account of the defeat of Early by Custer's 
division. The same night this division was pushed across 
the Blue Ridge, and entered Charlottesville at two p. M. 
the next day. The mayor of the city and the principal 
inhabitants came out and delivered up the keys of the 
public buildings. 

" I had to remain at Charlottesville two days. This 
time was consumed in bringing over from Waynesboro' 
our ammunition and pontoon trains. The weather was 
horrible beyond description, and the rain incessant. The 
two divisions were during this time occupied in destroying 
the two large iron bridges, one over the Rivanna river, 
and the other over Morse's creek, near Charlottesville, 
and the railroad for a distance of eight miles in the direc- 
tion of Lynchburg. 

" On the 6th of March, I sent the first division, General 
Deven commanding, to Scottsville, on the James river, 
with directions to send out light parties through the coun- 
try and destroy all merchandise, mills, factories, bridges, 
etc., on the Rivanna river, the parties to join the division 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 129 

at Scottsville. The division then proceeded along the 
canal to Duguidsville, fifteen miles from Lynchburg, de- 
stroying every lock, and in many places the banks of the 
canal. At Duguidsville we hoped to secure the bridge to 
let us cross the river, as our pontoons were useless on ac- 
count of the high water. In this, however, we were foiled, 
as both this bridge and the bridge at Hardwicksville were 
burned by the enemy upon our approach. Merritt accom- 
panied this division. 

" The third division started at the same time from 
Charlottesville, and proceeded down the Lynchburg rail- 
road to Amherst Court House, destroying every bridge on 
the road, and in many places miles of the road. The 
bridges on the road are numerous, and some of them five 
hundred feet in length. 

" We have found great abundance in this country for 
our men and animals ; in fact, the canal had been the 
great feeder of Richmond. At the Rockfish river, the bank 
of the canal was cut, and at New Canton, where the dam 
is across the James, the guard lock was destroyed, and the 
James river let into the canal, carrying away the banks, and 
washing out the bottom of the canal. The dam across 
the James at this point was also partially destroyed. 

" I have had no opposition. Everybody is bewildered 
by our movements. I have had no news of any kind since I 
left. The latest Richmond paper was of the 4th, but con- 
tained nothing. 

" I omitted to mention that the bridges on the railroad 
from Swoop's depot, on the other side of Staunton, to 
Charlottesville, were utterly destroyed ; also, all bridges 
for a distance of ten miles on the Gordonsville railroad. 

" The weather has been very bad indeed, raining hard 
every day, with the exception of four days, since we 
started. My wagons have, from the state of the roads, 
detained me. 

" Up to the present time we have captured fourteen 
pieces of artillery, eleven at Waynesboro', and three at 
Charlottesville. The party that I sent back from Waynes- 
boro' started with six pieces, but they were obliged to 
destroy two of the six for want of animals. The remain- 
ing eight pieces were thoroughly destroyed. 

"We have captured up to the present time twelve canal- 



130 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

boats, laden with supplies, ammunition, rations, medical 
stores, etc. 

'' I cannot speak in too high terms of Generals Merritt, 
Custer, and Deven, and the officers and men of their com- 
mands. They have waded through mud and water during 
this continuous rain, and are all in fine spirits and health. 

" Commodore Hollins, of the rebel navy, was shot near 
Gordonsville, while attempting to make his escape from 
our advance in that direction. 

*' Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
" P. H. Sheridan, Major-General Commanding ^ 

Describing Sheridan's victories from official despatches, 
the Army and Navy Journal says : 

When Sheridan withdrew from Harrisonburg, after bis 
advance up the valley, he paused at Cedar creek, two 
miles this side of Strasburg. Early followed him to 
Fisher's Hill, an equal distance on the other side. The 
intervening space of four miles, with the town in the centre, 
remained debatable ground. Two or three severe skir- 
mishes, resulting from reconnoissances, the most consider- 
able of which was the affair of Thursday, the 13th, showed 
that Early was bent upon the renewal of active hostilities. 
That veteran warrior has proved himself, despite the dif- 
ference in years, quite as restless as Sheridan, and has 
exhibited a boldness which, at least when viewed in the 
light of defeat, amounts to absolute rashness. Both his 
famous raid through Maryland to Baltimore, and his cam- 
paign againt Sheridan, have displayed the same quality 
of inordinate daring. The former was crowned with 
complete success ; but the latter with as unqualified dis- 
aster. A worthy successor of Stonewall Jackson, so far 
as intrepidity goes, he was fated to meet a very different 
antagonist in the valley from those whom Jackson so easily 
overthrew. When he encountered a general who, with 
equal energy, boldness, and skill, stood at the head of an 
army superior in numbers, Early's fortunes declined. Three 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 131 

successive and severe defeats at Winchester, Fisher's Hill, 
and Cedar creek, have attested the fatal mistakes in his 
military policy. The elasticity with which he recovered, 
after his former defeats, is indeed very surprising now, 
and warns us not to credit too much the exultant stories 
of his utter annihilation. But let him recuperate his army 
as he may, Early's prestige for the present is gone. 

Under the impression that the enemy's army was 
dispirited, if not essentially destroyed, Sheridan was ar- 
ranging new combinations of great importance. He had 
sent the sixth corps to Front Royal, and made cavalry 
dispositions in the same quarter. Whether this move 
was for the purpose of transporting a part of his force 
to Grant by way of the Manassas Gap railroad, of which 
he had lately taken thorough possession, or to operate 
afresh " on another line" east of the Blue Ridge, or what- 
ever its purpose, we need not speculate, because events 
have greatly changed those anticipations. The fortunate 
interception of despatches disclosed that Early was still in 
fighting condition, and had been reinforced, both with good 
men and good guns, from Richmond, to supply his large 
losses in those particulars. Ever}^ preparation was made 
to receive him, the sixth corps being recalled from Front 
Royal to the right of the infantry line. But in spite of 
this iotelligence, and of Early's hostile demonstration, 
Sheridan determined to visit Washington, where he had 
important aifairs to transact. He started thither on Sat- 
urday, the 15th, two days after Thorburn's severe affair 
near Strasburg. 

Our line lay along the easterly bank of Cedar creek, 
with the nineteenth corps in front of the bridge and ford, 
across which the turnpike crosses, the eighth corps on its 
left, and the sixth on its right. The two former were 
strongly intrenched, and the whole position was good. 
The first and third cavalry divisions covered the right 



132 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

flank, and Powell's cavalry picketed the whole north fork 
on the left as far as Front Royal. Oar line then beginning 
on the right, ran across the valley thus : Custer, Merritt, 
Wright (Ricketts), Emory, Crook, Powell. General 
Wright was in command. Before dawn of Wednesday, 
the 19th, a raw and misty morning, a heavy flanking col- 
umn of the enemy, under cover of the fog, gained, unper- 
ceived. Crook's left and rear, captured nearly all his skir- 
mish line, and was fairly inside his intrenchments before 
a drum was beat, or the scattering outpost fire had 
wakened the bewildered camp from its slumbers. Sim- 
ultaneously, Early burst across Cedar creek in front, 
carrying the ford and bridge. Seven pieces of artillery 
quickly fell into his hands. The rout of the eighth corps 
was followed by that of the nineteenth, whose left flank 
was exposed by the breaking of the former. Eleven more 
pieces of artillery were captured, and like the former, turned 
upon our flying troops. Day broke upon a wretched scene 
of scattered commands. Our entire position had been 
turned, a thousand prisoners, eighteen cannon, our camp 
equipage, and other spoils captured, and the exultant enemy 
pressing us away from the turnpike, was hastening along 
its easterly side to Middletown, whence our immense 
trains were driving post-haste to Winchester. A terrific 
artillery fire from the other side of Cedar creek, and a 
steady roll of musketry on the hither side, threw conster- 
nation and death into our ranks. Here and there subdi- 
visions bravely contested the ground. At other points 
multitudes of stragglers were breaking in panic to the rear. 
The sixth corps were soon brought up to cover the retreat, 
and Custer and Merritt, hitherto not engaged, except in a 
preliminary feint made by the enemy's cavalry on the 
right, were sent across to the support of the left. The 
line continued to give way. The enemy seized Middle- 
town and planted his batteries there, while our troops fell 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 183 

back to Newtown. There General Wright, who had never 
lost heart or hope, had resolved to make another stand, 
determined yet to win the day. Four miles from the strong 
position we had lost, the line was once more forming, 
during a fortunate lull in the battle. 

At this moment, Sheridan came upon the field. He had 
ridden at top speed from Winchester, where he had ar- 
rived from Washington, passing his retreating trains, his 
ambulances filled with wounded, and the crowds of fugi- 
tives who were rushing " demoralized " to the rear. 
Every thing told him plainly that his army, as he expresses 
it, had been "driven in confusion." Arriving at ten and 
a-half o'clock — his horse covered with foam — he made 
known his presence to the army, and was received with 
cheers. The knowledge of the absence of the head of the 
army had done much hitherto to prevent the recovery of 
the lost day. But now, Wright's retreat had drawn the 
main army from the enemy's severe fire, and caused the 
latter to follow him to a new position. Early also found 
himself forced to take a short interval of rest, in order to 
recuperate his exhausted troops, as well as to get them 
well in hand to confront our new line. Only a few troops 
of the sixth corps, were now hotly engaged, as the enemy 
had ceased to press us so severely. Rest and the post- 
poned breakfast had begun to suggest to our men that 
matters were not so desperate as they seemed. Once able 
to halt without being mowed down under fire, they could 
discuss more coolly the possibility of even driving the 
enemy. To turn the scale, Sheridan's opportune appear- 
ance came, and restored to his men that confidence and 
enthusiasm which cannot be counted on in an army except 
when its proper leader is in command. 

Until after mid-day, the lull in the general battle continued. 
But at one o'clock, the enemy, having dragged his artillery 
up to confront the new line, began tossing shells with ac- 



134 LIFE OF MAJOK-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

curacy into our ranks. The line was left as Wright had 
formed it, except that Custer's cavalry division had beeu 
thrown across from the left to the right. It now ran 
thus : Custer, Wright, Emory, Crook, Merritt. At Front 
Royal, Powell remained quiet, being cut off from the other 
troops. Yery soon the enemy came up once more on the 
charge. A prolonged and terrible encounter followed, the 
main part of which fell on the nineteenth and sixth corps. 
But he no longer contended with men surprised and be- 
wildered by a fierce daylight attack, from which his im- 
petuous rush had not suffered them to recover. The 
rapidity of his fighting, fortunate in one respect, was fatal 
in another. The lull which the exhaustion of his men 
demanded, proved the cause of his subsequent reverse. 
Our troops, also, now had their " second breath," and, 
well posted, received the enemy's charge on equal terms, 
awake, alert, and expectant. The odds were in our favor, 
and after a desperate effort, he recoiled to Middletown. 

Troops who could check the enemy after such bitter 
and continued reverse, could certainly advance. Accord- 
ingly, after an incessant duel of artillery and musketry, 
the charge was ordered. Between-three and four o'clock 
the whole line went forward, infantry and cavalry alike. 
A terrific fire greeted them from Middletown. But they 
pressed on, and despite an obstinate and sanguinary re- 
sistance, carried the village, where the enemy had made 
visible preparations to stay, and put him to -flight. The 
hard work was all over, and the day substantially won. 
It only remained to pursue and to gather up the spoils 
their hasty flight would compel the fugitives to relinquish. 
Our twenty-four lost guns, camp equipage, and lost 
wagons, ambulances, and horses, were retaken. The 
cavalry forded Cedar creek and kept on to Strasburg, 
where, in his hurried retreat, the enemy had got his wagons 
and most of his artillery into an inextricable jumble along 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 135 

the road. On our approach the riders cut their traces and 
rode away, abandoning every thing to us without a strug- 
gle. The capture of flags, cannon, and prisoners, was now 
mere play compared with the preceding work of the day. 
On account of the approach of night, and the complete 
exhaustion of our troops, however, there was no elaborate 
pursuit. Our infantry remained in the old camps at Cedar 
creek, a part being thrown out two miles further, to 
Strasburg. Some of the cavalry went as far as Fisher's 
Hill, but none pursued more than three or four miles be- 
yond Cedar creek. The next day the cavalry went up the 
valley as far as Woodstock, and made more captures of 
stragglers and abandoned material. But the enemy was 
far ahead, and had made good his retreat to Mount Jack- 
son. The cavalry therefore returned to the neighborhood 
of Fisher's Hill. 

In every aspect the victory was complete and decisive. 
The staggering blow it has inflicted on the enemy's re- 
sources will be evident from considering the simple fact 
that, wherever he loses man for man with us, he fatally 
weakens himself. Add the loss in cannon, small arms, 
and ammunition, and especially the loss in prestige and 
morale, and the importance of the affair at Cedar creek 
will be readily seen. 

OFFICIAL DESPATCHES FROM MR. STANTON. 

" War Department, Washington, ") 
''Thursday, October 20th, 1864—10.45 a.m.]" 
" Major-General Dix : 

"Another great battle was fought yesterday at Cedar 
creek, threatening at first a great disaster, but finally re- 
sulting in a victory for the Union forces under General 
Sheridan, more splendid than any heretofore achieved. 
The Department was advised yesterday evening of the 
commencement of the battle by the following telegrams : 



136 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

' Kectortown, Yirginia, ) 
'Wednesday, October l^th, 1864 — 4 p.m. j 
* Major- General H. W. Halleck, Chief of Staff : 

' Heavy cannonading has recommenced in the valley, 
and is now going on. CO. Augur, Major- General.^ 



' Harper's Ferry, Virginia — 6.40 p.m.) 

'Wednesday, October I9th, 1864. j 
* Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 

' Firing at the front has been continuous during the day. 
The direction seemed at intervals to be to the left of 
Winchester, as if at Berry's ferry. 
' No news from the front. 

'John D. Stevenson, Brigadier- General.^ 



'Harper's Ferry, Virginia — 8.45 p.m.) 
'Wednesday, October I9th, 1864. j 
' Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 

' The enemy attacked our army with great impetuosity 
this morning at daylight. 

' The attack was made on the left of the eighth corps, 
and was at first successful, they., capturing some guns, 
prisoners, and wagons. Our line was reformed, and 
heavy fighting continued through the day. 

' Sheridan was reported at Winchester this morning, 
and went to the front. 

' The particulars received are not ofiicial, and are not 
favorable, though no serious disaster could have occurred 
without direct news from Sheridan. Respectfully, 

'John D. Stevenson, Byngadier- General.^ 

" Matters remained in the doubtful state represented by 
the foregoing telegrams until this morning at 9.30, when 
the following telegram was received, unofficially, reporting 
the great victory won by Sheridan's army: 

' Harper's Ferry, Virginia, \ 
'Thursday, October 20th, 1864—9.30 a.m. J 
' News from Sheridan's headquarters at midnight, is to 
the effect that the enemy surprised our forces yesterday 
morning, driving the command in some confusion this 
Bide of Newtown, capturing artillery and prisoners. 
' Sheridan arrived in the field, reorganized our forces, 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 137 

drove the enemy beyond Strasburg, capturing, it is re- 
ported, forty-three pieces of artillery, one hundred wagons 
and ambulances, and some two thousand prisoners. 

* The rout of the enemy is said to be complete. This 
is not official, but I think reliable. 

'J. D. Stevenson, Brigadier- GeneraU 

"A few minutes later the following official report of his 
victory was received from Major-General Sheridan : 

' Cedar Creek, \ 
'Wednesday, October Idth, 1864— 10 p.m. ) 
* To Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point ': 

' I have the honor to report that my army at Cedar 
creek was attacked this morning before daylight, and my 
left was turned and driven in confusion. 

* In fact, most of the line was driven in confusion, with 
the loss of twenty pieces of artillery. 

' 1 hastened from Winchester, where I was on my re- 
turn from Washington, and found the armies between Mid- 
dletown and Newtown, having been driven back about four 
miles. I here took the affair in hand, and quickly uniting 
the corps, formed a compact line of battle just in time to 
repulse an attack of the enemy, which was handsomely 
done at about one p.m. 

'At three p.m., after some changes of the cavalry from 
the left to the right flank, I attacked with great vigor, 
driving and routing the enemy, capturing, according to 
the last report, forty-three pieces of artillery, and very 
many prisoners. 

* I do not know yet the number of my casualties, or 
the losses of the enemy. 

' Wagons, trains, ambulances, and caissons, in large 
numbers, are in our possession. 

' They also burned some of their trains. General 
Kamseur is a prisoner in our hands, severely and perhaps 
mortally wounded. 

' I have to regret the loss of General Bidwell, killed, 
and Generals Wright, Grover, and Ricketts, wounded. 
Wright is slightly wounded. 

* Affairs at times looked badly, but by the gallantry 
of our brave officers and men, disaster has been converted 
into a splendid victory. 



138 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 

' Darkness again intervened to shut off greater results. 
* I now occupy Strasburg. 

' As soon as obtained I will send you further particu- 
lars. P. H. Sheridan, Major -General.'' 

" The battle was fought on the same day, 19th of the 
month, that witnessed Sheridan's victory in September. 

" What the numbers were opposed to General Sheridan 
are not yet reported to the Department, but the boldness, 
vigor and success of the attack, strongly indicate that a 
heavy reinforcement had been sent from Richmond, with 
the expectation of fulfilling Longstreet's boast to smash 
up Sheridan. 

" Longstreet was known to be in the valley, and had 
assumed command of the rebel army, and confident hopes 
of an overwhelming disaster to the Union army were 
boastfully expressed for several days back by the rebel 
adherents in Wa^|iington and Baltimore. 

"Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of PFar." 



"War Department, Washington, D. C.,) 
"Friday, Oct. 2ist, 1864—11.40 a.m. ) 
" Major-General Dix : 

" The following telegram, received this morning, con- 
tains further particulars of the battle of Cedar creek : 

* Cedar Creek, Virginia — 11.30 a.m.,} 

'Thursday, October 20th, 1864. j 

* Lieutenant- General IJ. S. Grant, City Point : 

'We have again been favored by a great victory, won 
from disaster, by the gallantry of our officers and inen. 

' The attack on the enemy was made about three P.M., 
by a left half-wheel of the Avhole line, with a division of 
cavalry, turning each flank of the enemy, the whole line 
advancing. 

' The enemy, after a stubborn resistance, broke and 
fled, and were pushed with vigor. The artillery captured 
will probably be over fifty pieces. 

' This, of course, includes what were captured from our 
troops in the early morning. At least sixteen hundred 
prisoners have been brought in ; also wagons and ambu- 
lances in large numbers. 

' This morning the cavalry made a dash al Fisher's Hill 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 139 

and carried it, the enemy having fled during the nighty 
leaving only a small rear-guard. 

* I have to regret the loss of many valuable officers 
killed and wounded, among them Colonel Joseph Thor- 
burn, commanding a division of Crook's command, killed ; 
Colonel J. Howard Kitchen, commanding a brigade, 
wounded ; Colonel R. Gr. McKinzie, commanding a brig- 
ade, w^ounded severely, but would not leave the field. I 
cannot yet give exact details. 

' Many of our men captured in the morning have made 
their escape, and are coming in. 

' Ramseur, commanding a division in Early's army, died 
this morning. 

* P. H. Sheridan, Major- General Commanding. ' 

'' General Grant's appreciation of the victory at Cedar 
creek is expressed in the following despatch : 

' City Point, Thursday, October 20th, 1864 — 8 p.m. 
* Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. 

I had a salute of one hundred guns from each of the 
armies here fired in honor of Sheridan's last victory. 
Turning what bid fair to be disaster into a glorious vic- 
tory, stamps Sheridan, what I always thought him, one 
of the ablest of generals. 

*U. S. Grant, Lieutenant- GeneraV 

" The medical director reports that seven hundred and 
seventy slightly wounded have reached Winchester from 
the field. 

*' All the wounded that are able to bear transportation 
will be forwarded immediately to Martinsburg. 

"The telegraph line is now working to Atlanta, but no 
late reports have been received by the Department. 

"Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.^^ 

RAID TOWARD RICHMOND. 

The value of the movements of General Sheridan in 
closing the campaign that resulted in the fall of Richmond 
and of the rebellion, is thus summed up by the Army and 
Navy Journal of March 25th, 1865 : 

'* His despatches give an account of his success up to 
the time of reaching Columbia. On the 15th instant he 
reported from the bridge of the Richmond and Fredericks 



140 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

burg railroad, across the South Anna river, that, having 
destroyed the James river canal as far to the east as 
Goochland, he marched up the Virginia Central railroad 
at Tollsville, and destroyed it down to Beaver Dam 
station, totally breaking up fifteen miles of the road. 
General Custer vyas then sent to Ashland, and General 
Deven to the South Anna bridges — all of which have beeq 
destroyed. General Sheridan says the amount of property 
destroyed on his march is enormous. The enemy at 
tempted to prevent his burning the Central railroad 
bridge over the South Anna, but the fifth United States 
cavalry charged up to the bridge, and about thirty men 
dashed across on foot, driving off the enemy and capturing 
three pieces of artillery, twenty-pounder Parrotts. 

" At noon of the 10th, Sheridan's advance arrived on 
the north bank of the Pamunkey, a few miles from White 
House, and soon crossed the river. An officer of Grant's 
staff states that Sheridan lost about fifty men and two 
officers, all told. His men are mounted, excepting about 
two hundred and fifty. They captured many horses and 
mules, and shot all the broken-down animals. Nearly 
two hundred negroes came in with him. Women have 
travelled on foot, carrying children two years old, and kept 
up with his cavalry all the way from Columbia. At 
Charlottesville, he was obliged to station a rear guard to 
prevent the negroes following him by hundreds, as he was 
at that time unable to feed them, or to afford the slightest 
protection. He advanced to within fifteen miles of Lynch- 
burg, and came within twelve of Kichmond. Not a 
bridge is left on the James between the two cities ; and 
not a railroad bridge between Staunton and Charlottes- 
ville. His destruction of the canal is thorough. One 
viaduct could not be rebuilt in six months in time of 
peace. In one or two places the river was turned into 
the canal, and washed it out fifteen feet below the level. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 141 

" The enemy's accounts say that our troops followed the 
Orange and Alexandria railroad as far as Buffalo river, 
burning the railroad bridge at that point. Every bridge 
between Charlottesville and Buffalo, a distance of more 
than forty miles, has been destroyed, and much of the 
track torn up, though the extent of the damage done has 
not yet been ascertained. The nearest approach they 
made to Lynchburg was New Glasgow, seventeen miles 
distant, where a small party of them burnt the railroad 
depot. Our forces commenced at Bent Creek the work of 
destruction to the canal, which is very badly damaged 
from about twenty-five miles below Lynchburg to Co- 
lumbia, and further down toward Richmond. Every lock 
on the canal is said to have been destroyed. In several 
places the banks have been blown away. The aqueduct 
at Columbia is badly damaged. The destruction of pri- 
vate property along the route of the raiders is represented 
to be immense." 

PROM GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

" War Department, Washington,} 
" Friday, 3Iarch 11—3 P. M. j 
" Major-General Sheridan reports on the 15th instant, 
from the bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg 
railroad across the South Anna river, that, having de- 
stroyed the James river canal as far to the east as Gooch- 
land, he mached up to the Yirginia Central railroad at 
Tollsville and destroyed it down to Beaver Dam station, 
totally destroying fifteen miles of the road. General 
Custer was then sent to Ashland, and General Deven to 
the South Anna bridges, all of which have been destroyed. 
General Sheridan says the amount of property destroyed 
in his march is enormous. The enemy attempted to pre- 
vent the burning of the Central railroad bridge over the 
South Anna, but the fifth United States cavalry charged 
up to the bridge, and about thirty men dashed across on 
foot, driving off the enemy and capturing three pieces of 
artillery, twenty-pounder Parrotts. 

" C. A. Dana, Assistant Secretary of TTar." 



142 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 



CHAPTER XIL 

SHERIDAN'S PART IN THE FALL OF THE REBEL CAPITAL. 

Soon after the failure of Lee's attack, on the morning of 
March 25th, 1865, the evidences of his intended retrograde 
multiplied. Sheridan accordingly hurried through to the 
left of our lines, and Grant prepared to strike the enemy 
before he should get away from his capital. 

Sheridan, on Sunday, the 26th of March, reached City 
Point. On Monday, the 2Hh, he took position in Gregg's 
old cavalry camp, on the left and rear of the Army of the 
Potomac. At one point the enemy opened on his column 
with shell, and this, with the attack on Getty's front in 
the sixth corps, which was well met, occasioned the 
principal firing of the day. But, on the same day, orders 
were received at the various field-hospitals to remove the 
sick and wounded to City Point, and to keep the hospitals 
in readiness for any emergency that might arise. At 
twelve o'clock at night the vvhole Army of the Potomac 
was put under marching orders. 

Sheridan's cavalry took the extreme left, and made a 
wide detour to Dinwiddle Court House. Warren's fifth 
corps came next, then Humphreys' second. The sixth 
and ninth corps still held the lines around Petersburg. 
On the 27th, troops were selected from the twenty-fourth 
and twenty-fifth corps — Ord's Army of the James — and 
the same night marched across the river, leaving the re- 
mainder of the two corps to garrison our position north 
of the James. 

At six o'clock on the morning of the 29th, the cavalrj 
left camp, marching down the Jerusalem plank-road tc 
Keams' station on the Weldon railroad. Its new organi- 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 143 

zation divided it into two wings, Crook commanding the 
right, and Merritt the left. Crook was in advance. 
Custer brought up the rear, guarding the trains. The 
roads were bad. At half past nine, Rowanty creek was 
reached at Malone's bridge, and the bridge found to be 
destroyed. The creek was so difficult of approach as not 
to be fordable. Accordingly, the column was delayed 
four hours until a bridge could be built. Then the ad- 
vance division got across, aud pushed straight for Din- 
widdle. The bad roads delayed the march, and our trains 
were deeply mired. A party, about eighty strong, of 
the sixteenth North Carolina, tried to impede our progress 
by felling trees ; but they were quickly dispersed by a 
charge of the twenty-first Pennsylvania, of Irvin Gregg's 
division. A few prisoners were captured. The town 
was now occupied, and communication opened with War- 
ren's corps on the right. It rained a little on the night 
of the 29th, and very hard all day on the 30th. The 
roads were consequently made so bad as to block the 
trains, and a great part of Sheridan's force was employed 
in guarding them. The rest moved up to the Boydton 
road, according to the plan of action already arranged. 

Early in the morning Sheridan connected his right with 
Warren's left, near the Boydton plank-road. The enemy 
was found to have a very strong line of intrenchments 
already erected to cover the position known as Five 
Forks. Merritt's corps was therefore sent out in this 
direction to turn the enemy's right. The advance, Devon's 
brigade, soon encountered the enemy's cavalry, who were 
driven back to the works. Then the enemy's infantry in 
turn drove back our cavalry, and the latter pushed out 
once more to find the enemy's left, confident that there 
must be an end to his line somewhere, if they could only 
find it. The enemy's right was commanded by Ander- 
"^onpand Pickett's division of Anderson's corps held the 



144 LIFE OF MAJOR- GENEKAL SHERIDAN. 

extreme right. His intrenchments completely covered 
the White Oak road, which runs from the Boydton road 
to the Southside railroad. From the White Oak road up 
towards Hatcher's run, the enemy's troops were in strong 
force. He baffled all our attempts on Thursday to turn 
him by cavalry, as his works, manned by infantry, checked 
us at all points. 

But the movements of our own main body prepared for 
the greater contest of Friday. Ayres' division, of the 
fifth corps, was moved clear across the Boydton road as 
far as the White Oak road. Griffin and Crawford fol- 
lowed. The second corps by noon had advanced a mile 
and a-half, to where it could have a plain view of the 
enemy's main works. Birney's and Foster's divisions also 
pushed forward, and occupied the enemy's picket-lines 
after a very smart skirmish. Artillery was used here by 
the enemy, and also in front of Smyth's brigade, in the 
advance of the second corps. Our total losses during the 
day were less than two hundred. The fifth corps lost 
twenty-six, and the other corps perhaps averaged the 
same. At the close of the day, the fifth corps occupied 
a position about a mile north of the junction of the 
Quaker and Boydton roads. During the day it had 
pushed on nearly due west about three-fourths of a mile, 
and lay fronting northward, with the pickets of Ayres^ 
division within five hundred yards of the White Oak road, 
at a point between two and three miles west of its inter- 
section with the Boydton road. To the right of Ayres 
was Crawford, and on Crawford's right, Griffin. On the 
right of the fifth corps lay the second, which now had its 
right near Hatcher's run, while its left rested on the 
Boydton plank-road near Burgess's Tavern, about one 
mile south of the bridge across Hatcher's run. Sheridan 
continued to cover our left flank, and remained at Din- 




LIFE OF MAJOE-GENERAL SRERIDAN. 145 

widdie, his sharp skirmishing having told him that the 
enemy would risk a severe battle for the railroad. 

The second division lay on Stony creek, southwest of 
Dinwiddie, Smith's, Davies', and Gregg's brigades all 
supporting, and holding the left of Sheridan's line. Next 
to Davies, and northeasterly, lay Fitzhugh's brigade of 
Davies' division, facing southeast, and next beyond, 
Stagg's Michigan brigade of the same division was posted 
on Gravelly run, six miles from Dinwiddie. About two 
miles from Dinwiddie was Gibbs' (third) brigade of 
Davies' division. Soon after noon, the fifth corps having 
been driven back, the enemy attacked Smith's brigade in 
force, and a few prisoners were taken on each side • but 
our troops held their ground. Davies' brigade, on the 
right of Smith, next received the enemy's attention. It 
held the bridge across Stony creek. The brigade stub- 
bornly resisted, but the enemy forded the creek, flanked 
it, and forced it back with severe loss. The tenth and 
twenty-fourth New York were heavily engaged, and 
many officers were wounded. The enemy, having crossed 
the ford, now attacked Sheridan's left centre once more in 
force, and drove it back. The commands were faced into 
new positions as rapidly as possible, and reinforcements 
hurried forward. By five o'clock the greater part of both 
divisions had been repulsed and driven back several miles 
to the Boydton road, while Gibbs' had fallen back to 
about a mile from Dinwiddie. But now the enemy had 
encountered our entire force. Merritt's troops were re- 
formed, and Custer's division, with Capehart on the left, 
and Pennington on the right, held a firm position. The 
enemy, who had been reinforced with a part of Pickett's 
and Johnson's divisions — the troops employed against the 
fifth corps — came down with a furious charge, cheering 
and gallantly advancing. Very hard fighting took place 
here. But our artillery in position, and our very large 



146 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

force of cavalry, now rallied, and ably handled by Sheri- 
dan in person, eventually forced him to desist. A few- 
desperate charges left our men immovable, and the enemy, 
well content with his day's work, drew off to the woods. 
Our forces immediately intrenched. 

The fifth corps did not long pause on the Boydton road. 
When the enemy had ceased the pursuit, it was rallied 
again. Griffin's division took the new advance, and with 
Chamberlain's brigade leading, and Bartlett and Gregory 
in close support, soon passed over the abandoned ground. 
The enemy, who was now chiefly engaged with Sheridan, 
fell back before our men. The whole ground was re- 
gained, with sharp fighting and marching. It was then 
designed to abandon a part of it once more. But Griffin's 
division, desiring to capture the earthwork from which 
the enemy had issued, it was moved on, carried the work, 
and took position on the White Oak road, east of Five 
Forks. 

THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS. 

Sheridan had been placed in command of all the cavalry 
and of the fifth corps by Grant, who had reason to believe 
that this was the best way to prevent the disasters of the 
day preceding from being repeated. He now controlled 
nearly four divisions of cavalry and three of infantry, a 
force not far from thirty thousand strong, and of double 
the strength which the enemy couU concentrate against 
him at Five Forks, while our army threatened^tj^je whole 
length of the protracted line from Dinwiddle to Peters- 
burg. Lee is said to have had only two divi'^ions ,at the 
point attacked by Sheridan. The latter's plan seems to 
have been to break through the enemy's line in such a 
manner as to enclose Five Forks and its garrison, and to 
capture them. He was completely and gloriously suc- 
cessful. And he deserves great credit for having formed 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GEXERAL SHERIDAN. 147 

and carried out an actual tactical plan, and not a mere 
plunging of troops forward in questionable experiment. 

^he cavalry started for their appointed positions at 
daybreak of Saturday, Custer and Deven slowly driving 
the enemy toward the left of their works on the White 
Oak road. These divisions now dismounted, and fought 
with carbines. The brigades of Gregg and Mackenzie 
were kept in the saddle, so as to move rapidly on the 
flank of the enemy. In this way Sheridan worked his 
men steadily up to the enemy's intrenchments on all 
sides. The enemy fell slowly back through the broken 
country to his main position, delivering a terrific fire upon 
our men, who fell in great numbers. Still, however, 
Sheridan kept his men up to the task, and gradually got 
all his forces well into position, with a division or more 
well round upon the enemy's flank and rear, and the rest 
of his troops pressing slowly and with much loss upon 
the front of the works. And now came the grand attack 
of all our forces. Warren's corps had, after its repulse 
of the day before to the Boydton road, and the repulse 
of the cavalry to Dinwiddle, moved to the Butler House, 
and thence on the road toward Ford's station. About 
three o'clock on Saturday, the fifth corps was ordered for- 
ward to support the cavalry, and marched from Boisseau's 
house on the Boydton road, until it halted, facing obliquely 
the White Oak road, with Ayres on the left, Crawford in 
the centre, and Griffin on the right. The corps was now 
manoeuvred so as to execute what custom has allowed to 
be a "left wheel" of the line of battle, Ayres' division 
being a sort of pivot, with Griffin as the outer flank. 
Yery little regularity, however, was observed in this 
movement. The enemy fell back slowly and stubbornly 
at first, and then, at five o'clock, comprehending the dan- 
gerous position in which he had been placed, made a de- 
cisive stand. For two hours one of the most terrific 
9 






148 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

contests of the war went on. The cavalry pressed on one 
flank, and Griffin led the fifth corps in person on the other. 
The enemy were few in numbers, but fought with gal- 
lantry worthy of a better cause. 

Strongly intrenched, and with a battery in position, 
they raked our brave columns with the fire of hell. Sev- 
eral times our men, heroic as they were, staggered back 
from the intrenchments, appalled at the slaughter, and it 
seemed that another would be added to the list of unhappy 
attempts of the army. But Sheridan was determined not 
to fail. He lent his personal presence to all parts of the 
field, and by turns cheered, urged, and drove his men. 
At length our troops had surrounded the enemy on all 
sides, and completely exhausted him. They swarmed 
over his parapets. Great havoc had already been made 
in his own ranks. Many of his officers had been killed. 
"Wearied and decimated, and seeing it useless to try to 
check us, the enemy broke to the rear through the only 
outlet left him. Our overwhelming forces rushed on him 
at once, and another fierce struggle resulted. By half- 
past seven o'clock the battle was over. About four thou- 
sand prisoners had been captured, four or eight cannon, 
an ambulance and baggage train, several thousand muskets, 
and twenty or thirty flags. Custer's and Mackenzie's 
divisions pressed on in pursuit of the enemy, and picked 
up many stragglers and fugitives.- 

About nine o'clock, the joyful intelligence of victory 
arrived at Grant's headquarters. Miles' division pushed 
on toward Sheridan in the evening. In order to co- 
operate with Sheridan somewhat, a general cannonade 
was ordered along our front, and at ten o'clock at night it 
opened. A terrific artillery action resulted, not surpassed 
in intensity during the siege. On some parts of the line 
there were also demonstrations by infantry, particularly on 
the second corps front. From ten to four the artillery 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 149 

engagement was continued with great fury. The other 
main event of the day was the removal of General 
Warren from the command of the fifth corps by General 
Sheridan. 

TALL OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. 

On Sunday afternoon, April 2d, 1865, Lee, finding his 
army, after a gallant and thorough battle, no longer able to 
maintain its positions, gave orders for the evacuation of 
Richmond and Petersburg. This was accomplished the 
same night and early next day our forces pushed into both 
cities. 

Sheridan's columns still pressed the enemy, making 
new captures. General Grant, who had been at Peters- 
burg for two days, received, on the night of the fifth, a 
despatch from Sheridan, at Jettersville, which stated that 
Lee was probably at Amelia Court House on the same 
day. Jettersville is in Amelia county, about half way 
between Burksville and Amelia Court House, on the Dan- 
ville railroad. On the fifth, Davis' cavalry brigade cap- 
tured five guns, two hundred wagons, eight or nine battle- 
flags, and a number of prisoners. General Sheridan, in 
the heat of victory, and desirous that others should 
employ the tremendous energy which characterizes him, 
added the following significant words to Grant : " I wish 
you vjere here yourself I feel confident of our capturing 
the army of Northern Virginia, if we exert ourselves. I 
see no escape for Lee." 

And there was none. He was captured from that hour. 

OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

Cavalry Headquarters, May 16, 1865. 

General : — I have the honor to submit the following 

narrative of the operations of my command during the 

recent campaign in front of Petersburg and Richmond, 

teimioating with the surrender of the rebel army of 



150 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

Northern Yirginia at Appomattox Court House, Yirginia, 
on April 9, 1865. 

On March 26, my command, consisting of the first and 
third cavalry divisions, under the immediate command of 
Brevet Major-General Wesley Merritt, crossed the James 
river by the bridge at Jones' landing, having marched 
from Winchester, in the Shenandoah valley, via White 
House, on the Pamunkey river. 

On March 27, this command went into camp at Hancock 
station, on the military railroad in front of Petersburg, 
and on the same day the second cavalry division, which 
had been serving with the Army of the Potomac, re- 
ported to me under the command of Major-General 
George Crook. 

The effective force of these divisions was as follows : 

General Merritt's command first and third divis- 
ions, 5,100 

General Crook's command, se<5ond division, 3,300 



Total effective force, 9,000 

With this force I moved out on the 29th of March, in 
conjunction with the armies operating against Richmond, 
and in the subsequent operations I was under the imme- 
diate orders of the Lieutenant-General commanding. 

I moved by the way of Reams' station on the Weldon 
railroad, and Malon's crossing on the Rowanty creek, 
where we were obliged to construct a bridge. 

At this point our advance encountered a small picket 
of the rebel cavalry, and drove it to the left across St^ny 
creek, capturing a few prisoners, from whom, and from 
my scouts, I learned that the enemy's cavalry was at or 
near Stony creek depot, on the Weldon railroad, on our 
left flank and rear. Believing that it would not attack 
4 me, and that by pushing on to Dinwiddie Court House I 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 151 

could force it to make a wide detour, we continued the 
march, reaching the Court House about five o'clock p. M., 
encountering only a small picket of the enemy, which was 
driven away by our advance. 

It was found necessary to order General Custer's division, 
which was marching in the rear, to remain near Malon's 
crossing, on the Rowanty creek, to assist and protect our 
trains, which were greatly retarded by the almost impass- 
able roads of that miry section. The first and second 
divisions went into camp covering the Yaughan, Flat 
Foot, Boydton plank, and Five Forks roads, which all 
intersect at Dinwiddle Court House, rendering this an im- 
portant point, and from which I was expected to make a 
cavalry raid on the Southside railroad, and thence join 
General Sherman, or return to Petersburg, as circumstances 
might dictate. However, during the night the Lieutenant- 
General sent me instructions to abandon the contemplated 
raid, and act in concert with the infantry under his imme- 
diate command, and turn the right flank of Lee's army, if 
possible. 

Early on the morning of the 30th of March, I directed 
General Merritt to send the first division, Brigadier-General 
Deven commanding, to gain possession of the I]ive Forks 
on the White Oak road, and directed General Crook to 
send General Davies' brigade of his division to the sup- 
port of General Deven. 

Gregg's brigade, of Crook's division, was held on the 
Boydton plank road, and guarded the crossing of Stony 
creek, forcing the enemy's cavalry, that was moving from 
Stony creek depot to form a connection with the right of 
their army, to make a wide detour, as I had anticipated, 
on the south side of Stony creek, and west of Chamber- 
lain's bed — a very fatiguing march in the bad condition 
of the roads. A very heavy rain fell during this day, 
aggravating the swampy nature of the ground, and render- 



152 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

ing the movements of troops almost impossible. General 
Merritt's reconnoissanee developed the enemy in strong 
force on the White Oak road in the vicinity of the Five 
Forks, and there was some heavy skirmishing throughout 
the day. Next morning, March 31, General Merritt ad- 
vanced toward the Five Forks with the first division, and 
meeting with considerable opposition. General Deven's 
brigade, of Crook's division, was ordered to join him, 
while General Crook, advancing on the left with the two 
other brigades of his division, encountered the enemy's 
cavalry at Chamberlain's creek, at a point a little west of 
Dinwiddie, making demonstrations to cross. Smith's 
brigade was ordered to hold them in check and Gregg's 
brigade to a position on his right. The advance of the 
first division got possession of the Five Forks, but in the 
mean time the fifth army corps, which had advanced to- 
ward the White Oak road from the Yaughan road, was 
attacked and driven back, and withdrawing from that 
point, this force of the enemy marched rapidly from the 
front of the fifth corps to the Five Forks, driving in our 
cavalry advance, and moving down on roads west of 
Chamberlain's creek, attacked General Smith's brigade, 
but were unable to force his position. Abandoning the 
attempt to cross in his front, this force of the enemy's 
infantry succeeded in effecting a crossing higher up the 
creek, striking General Davies' brigade, of the second di- 
vision, which, after a gallant fight, was forced back upon the 
left flank of the first division, thus partially isolating all this 
force from my main line covering Dinwiddie Court House. 
Orders were at once given to General Merritt to cross 
this detached force over to the Boydton plank road, and 
march down to Dinwiddie Court House, and come into the 
line of battle. The enemy, deceived by this movement, 
followed it up rapidly, making a left wheel, and presenting 
his rear to my line of battle. When his line was nearly 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 153 

parallel to mine, General Gibbs' brigade of the first di- 
vision, and General Irvine Gregg's brigade of the second 
division were ordered to attack at once, and General 
Custer was directed to bring up two of his brigades rap- 
idly, leaving one brigade of bis division with the trains 
that had not yet reached Dinwiddle Court House. In the 
gallant attack made by Gibbs and Gregg the enemy's 
wounded fell into our hands, and he was forced to face by 
the rear rank, and give up his movement, which if con- 
tinued would have taken in flank and rear the infantry 
line of the Army of the Potomac. When the enemy l^ad 
faced to meet this attack a very obstinate and handsomely 
contested battle ensued, in which, with all his cavalry and 
two divisions of infantry, the enemy was unable to drive 
five brigades of our cavalry, dismounted, from an open 
plain in front of Dinwiddle Court House. The brunt of 
their cavalry attack was borne by General Smith's brigade, 
which had so gallantly held the crossing of Chamberlain's 
creek in the morning. His command again held the ene- 
my in check with determined bravery, but the heavy force 
brought against his right flank finally compelled him to 
abandon his position on the creek, and fall back to the 
main line immediately in front of Dinwiddle Court House. 
As the enemy's infantry advanced to the attack, our cav- 
alry threw up slight breastworks of rails at some points 
along our lines, and when the enemy attempted to force 
this position they were handsomely repulsed, and gave up 
the attempt to gain possession of the Court House. It 
was after dark when the firing ceased, and the enemy lay 
on their arms that night not more than one hunderd yards 
in front of our lines. The commands of Generals Deven 
and Davies reached Dinwiddle Court House without oppo- 
sition by way of Boydton plank road, but did not partici- 
pate in the final action of the day. In this well contested 
battle the most obstinate gallantry was displayed by 



154 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

my entire command. The brigades commanded by Gen- 
eral Gibbs and Colonels Stagg and Fitzhugh, in the first 
division, Generals Davies, Gregg, and Smith in the second 
division, Colonels Pennington and Capehart, in the third 
division, vied with each other in their determined efforts 
to hold in check the superior force of the enemy ; and the 
skilful management of their troops in this peculiarly diffi- 
cult country entitles the brigade commanders to the 
highest couimendation. 

Generals Crook, Merritt, Custer, and Deven, by their 
courage and ability, sustained their commands, and exe- 
cuted the rapid movements of the day with promptness 
and without confusion. 

Daring the right of the 31st of March, my headquarters 
were at Dinwiddle Court House, and the Lieutenant- 
General notified me that the fifth corps would report to 
me, and should reach me by midnight. This corps had 
been offered to me on the 30th instant, but very much de- 
siring the sixth corps, w^hich had been with me in the 
Shenandoah valley, I asked for it, but on account of the 
delay which would occur in moving that corps from its 
position in the lines in front of Petersburg, it could not be 
sent to me. I respectfully submit herewith my brief ac- 
counts of the operations of the day, the response to which 
was the ordering of the fifth corps to my support and my 
command, ns also the despatch of the Lieutenant-General 
notifying mo of his action. I understood that the fifth 
corps, when ordered to report to me, was in position near 
S. Dabney's house, in the angle between the Boydton road 
and the Five Forks road. 

Had General Warren moved according to the expecta- 
tions of the Lieutenant-General, there would appear to 
have been but little chance for the escape of the enemy's 
infantry in front of Dinwiddle Court House. Ayres' 
division moved down the Boydton plank road during the 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 155 

night, and in the morning moved west via R. Boisseau's 
house, striking the Five Forks road about two and a half 
miles north of Dinwiddle Court House. General Warren, 
with GriflBn's and Crawford's divisions, moved down the 
road by Crump's house, coming into the Five Forks road 
near J. Boisseau's house between seven and eight o'clock 
on the morning of the 1st of April. Meantime, I moved 
my cavalry force at daylight against the enemy's lines in 
front, which gave way rapidly, moving off by the right 
flank and crossing Chamberlain's creek. This hasty move- 
ment was accelerated by the discovery that two divisions 
of the fifth corps were in their rear, and that one division 
was moving toward their left and rear. 

The following were the instructions sent to General 
Warren : 

" Cavalry Headquarters, \ 

" DiNWiDDiE G. H., April 1, 1865—3 A. m. j 

" To Major-General Warren, Commanding Fifth 
Army Corps : — I am holding in front of Dinwiddle Court 
House, on the road leading to Five Forks, for three quar- 
ters of a mile, with General Custer's division. The enemy 
are in his immediate front, lying so as to cover the road 
just this side of A. Adam's house, which leads out across 
Chamberlain's bed or run. I understand you have a divi- 
sion at J. Boisseau's ; if so, you are in rear of the enemy's 
lines, and almost on his flanks. I will hold on here. 
Possibly they may attack Custer at daylight ; if so, attack 
instantly, and in full force. Attack at daylight anyhow, 
and I will make an effort to get the road this side of 
Adam's house, and if I do, you can capture the whole of 
them. Any force moving down the road I am holding, 
or on the White Oak road, will be in the enemy's rear, 
and in all probability get any force that may escape you 
by a flank attack. Do not fear my leaving here. If the 
enemy remains, I shall fight at daylight. 

'*P. H. Sheridan, Major-GeneraU^ 

As they fell back the enemy were rapidly followed by 
General Merritt's two divisions, General Deven on the 



156 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAX. 

right, and General Custer on the left ; General Crook in 
rear. During the remainder of the day General Crook's 
division held the extreme left and rear, and was not 
seriously engaged. 

I then determined that I would drive the enemy, with 
the cavalry, to the Five Forks, pre'ss them inside of their 
works, and make a feint to turn their right flank, and 
meanwhile quietly move up the fifth corps with a view to 
attacking their left flank, crush the whole force, if possi- 
ble, and drive westward those who might escape, thus 
isolating them from their army at Petersburg. Happily, 
this conception was successfully executed. About this 
time General McKenzie's division of cavalry, from the 
army of the James, reported to me, and consisted of about 
one thousand effective men. I directed General Warren 
to hold fast at J. Boisseau's house, refresh his men, and 
be ready to move to the front when required ; and Gene- 
ral McKenzie was ordered to rest in front of Dinwiddle 
Court House until further orders. 

Meantime General Merritt's command continued lo 
press the enemy, and by impetuous charges drove them 
from two lines of temporary works ; General Custer 
guiding his advance on the widow Gilliam's house, and 
General Deven on the main Five Forks road. The 
courage displayed by the cavalry officers and men was 
superb, and about two o'clock the enemy was behind his 
works on the White Oak road, and his skirmish line 
drawn in. I then ordered up the fifth corps on the main 
road, and sent Brevet Major Gillespie, of the engineers, 
to turn the head of the column off on the Gravelh'' 
Church road, and put the corps in position on this road 
obliquely to and at a point but a short distance from the 
White Oak road, and about one mile from the Five Forks. 
Two divisions of the corps were to form the front line, and 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 157 

one division was to be held in reserve in column of regi- 
ments opposite the centre. 

I then directed General Merritt to demonstrate as 
though he was attempting to turn the enemy's right flank, 
and notified him that the fifth corps would strike the 
enemy's left flank, and ordered that the cavalry should 
assault the enemy's works as soon as the fifth corps be- 
came engaged, and that would be determined by the 
volleys of musketry. I then rode over to where the fifth 
corps was going into position, and found them coming up 
very slowly. I was exceedingly anxious to attack at 
once, for the sun was getting low, and we had to fight or 
go back. It was no place to intrench, and it would have 
been shameful to have gone back with no results to com- 
pensate for the loss of the brave men who had fallen 
during the day. In this connection, I will say that Gen- 
eral Warren did not exert himself to get up his corps as 
rapidly as he might have done, and his manner gave me 
the impression that he wished the sun to go down before 
dispositions for the attack could be completed. As soon 
as the corps was in position, I ordered an advance in the 
following formation : Ayres' division on the left in double 
lines, Crawford's division on the right in double lines, and 
Griflin's division in reserve, behind Crawford, and the 
White Oak road was reached without opposition. 

While General Warren was getting into position, I 
learned that the left of the second corps of the Army of 
the Potomac, on my right, had been swung around from 
the direction of its line of battle until it fronted on 
the Boydton road, and parallel to it, which afi*orded an 
opportunity to the enemy to march down the White Oak 
road and attack me in right and rear. General McKenzie 
was therefore sent up the Crump road, with direction to 
gain the White Oak road if possible, but to attack at all 
hazards any enemy found, and if successful, then march 



158 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENEKAL SHERIDAN. 

down that road and join me. General McKenzie executed 
this with courage and skill, attacking a force of the enemy 
on the White Oak road, and driving it toward Peters- 
burg. He then countermarched, and joined me on the 
White Oak road just as the fifth corps advanced to the 
attack, and I directed him to swing round with the right 
of the infantry and gain possession of the Ford road at the 
crossing of Hatcher's run. The fifth corps, on reaching 
the White Oak road, made a left wheel, and burst on the 
enemy's left flank and rear like a tornado, and pushed 
rapidly on, orders having been given that if the enemy 
was routed there should be no halt to reform broken lines. 
As stated before, the firing of the fifth corps was the 
signal to General Merritt to assault, which was promptly 
responded to, and the works of the enemy were soon 
carried at several points by our brave cavalrymen. The 
enemy were driven from their strong line of works, and 
completely routed, the fifth corps doubling up their left flank 
in confusion, and the cavalry of General Merritt dashing 
on to the White Oak road, capturing their artillery, and 
turning it upon them, and, riding into their broken ranks, 
so demoralized them, that they made no serious stand 
after their line was carried, but took to flight in disorder. 
Between five thousand and six thousand prisoners fell 
into our hands, and the fugitives were driven westward, 
and were pursued until long after dark by Merritt's and 
McKenzie's cavalry, for a distance of six miles. 

During this attack I again became dissatisfied with 
General Warren. During the engagement, portions of 
bis line gave way when not exposed to a heavy fire, and 
simply from want of confidence on the part of the troops, 
which General Warren did not exert himself to inspire. 
I therefore relieved him from the command of the fifth 
corps, authority for this action having been sent to me, 
before the battle, unsolicited. When the pursuit was 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GEXERAL SHERIDAN". 159 

given up, I directed .General Griffin, who had been 
ordered to assume command of the fifth corps, to collect 
his corps at once, march two divisions back to Gravelly 
Church, and put them into position at right angles to the 
White Oak road, facing toward Petersburg, while Bart- 
lett's division, Griffin's old, covered the Ford road to 
Hatcher's run. General Merritt's cavalry went into 
camp on the widow Gilliam's plantation, and General 
McKenzie took position on the Ford road at the crossing 
of Hatcher's run. I cannot speak too highly of the con- 
duct of the troops in this battle, and of the gallantry of 
their commanding officers, who appeared to realize that 
the success of the campaign and fate of Lee's army 
depended upon it. They merit the thanks of the country 
and reward of the government. To Generals Griffin, 
Ay res, Bartlett, and Crawford, of the fifth corps, and to 
Generals Merritt, Custer, Deven, and McKenzie, of the 
cavalry, great credit is due ; and to their subordinate 
commanders they will undoubtedly award the praise 
which is due to them for the hearty cooperation, bravery, 
and ability which were everywhere displayed. At day- 
light on the morning of April 2d, General Miles' division 
of the second corps reported to me, coming over from the 
Boydton plank road. I ordered it to move up the' White 
Oak road toward Petersburg, and attack the enemy at the 
intersection of that road with the Claiborne road, where 
he was in position in heavy force, and I followed General 
Miles immediately with two divisions of the fifth corps. 
Miles forced the enemy from this position, and pursued 
with great zeal, pushing him across Hatcher's run, and 
following him up on the road to Sutherland's depot. On 
the north side of the run I overtook Miles, who was 
anxious to attack, and had a very fine and spirited division. 
I gave him permission, but about this time General 
Humphreys came up, and receiving notice from General 



160 LIFE OF MA JOE- GENERAL SKERIDAN. 

Meade that General Humphreys would take command 
of Miles' division, I relinquished it at once, facing the 
fifth corps by the rear. I afterward regretted giving up 
this division, as I believe the enemy could at that time 
have been crushed at Sutherland's depot. I returned to 
Five Forks, and marched out the Ford road toward 
Hatcher's run. 

The cavalry had in the meantime been sent westward, 
to cross Hatcher's run and break up the enemy's cavalry, 
which had collected in considerable force north of that 
stream, but they would not stand to fight, and our cavalry 
pursued them in a direction due north to the Namozine 
road. Crossing Hatcher's run with the fifth corps, the 
Southside railroad was struck at Ford's depot, meeting 
no opposition, and the fifth corps marched rapidly toward 
Sutherland's depot, in flank and rear of the enemy oppo- 
sing Miles. As he approached that point, the force of the 
enemy fled before the fifth corps could reach them, retreat- 
ing along the main road by the Appomattox river, the 
cavalry and Crawford's division of the fifth corps engaging 
them slightly about dusk. On the morning of the 3d 
our cavalry took up the pursuit, routing the enemy's 
cavalry, and capturing many prisoners. The enemy's 
infantry was encountered at Deep creek, where a severe 
fight took place. The fifth corps followed up the cavalry 
rapidly, picking up many prisoners, and five pieces of 
abandoned artillery, and a number of wagons. The fifth 
corps, with Crook's division of cavalry, encamped that 
night, the 4:th, at Deep creek, on the Namozine road, 
neither of these commands having been engaged during 
the day. On the morning of the 4th, General Crook was 
ordered to strike the Danville railroad, between Jetters- 
ville and Burke's station, and then move up toward 
Jettersville. The fifth corps moved rapidly to that point, 
as I had learned from my scouts that the enemy was at 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 161 

Amelia Court House, and every things indicated that they 
were collecting at that point. On arriving at Jettersville, 
about five o'clock p. m., I learned without doubt that 
Lee and his whole army were at Amelia Court House. 

The fifth corps was at once ordered to intrench, with a 
view of holding Jettersville until the main army could 
come up. It seems to me that this was the only chance 
the army of North^ern Yirginia had to save itself, which 
might have been done had General Lee promptly attacked 
and driven back the comparatively small force opposed 
to him, and pursued his march to Burkesville junction. 
A despatch from General Lee's chief commissary to the 
commissary at Danville and Lynchburg, requiring two 
hundred thousand rations to be sent to meet the army at 
Burkesville, was here intercepted. So soon as I found 
that the entire army of the enemy was concentrated at 
Amelia Court House, I forwarded promptly all the infor- 
mation I had obtained to General Meade and the Lieu- 
tenant- General. On the morning of April 5th, General 
Crook was directed to send General Davies', brigade to 
make a reconnoissance to Paine's cross-roads on our left 
and front, and ascertain if the enemy were making any 
movement towards that flank to escape. General Davies 
struck a train of one hundred and eighty wagons, escorted 
by a considerable force of the enemy's cavalry, which he 
defeated, capturing five pieces of artillery. He destroyed 
the wagons, and brought in a large number of prisoners. 
Gregg's and Smith's brigades, of the second division, were 
sent out to support Davies, and some heavy fighting 
ensued, the enemy having sent a strong force of infantry 
to attack and cut off Davies' brigade, which attempt was 
unsuccessful. During the afternoon, and after the arrival 
of the second corps at Jettersville, which General Meade 
requested me to put in position, he being ill, the enemy 
demonstrated strongly in front of Jettersville against 



162 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

Smith's and Gregg's brigades of Crook's division of 
cavalry, but no serious attack was made. Early on the 
morning of April 6tb, General Crook was ordered to 
move to the left to Deatonsville, followed by Custer's and 
Deven's divisions of General Merritt's command. The 
fifth corps had been returned to the command of General 
Meade at his request. I afterward regretted giving up 
the corps. 

When near Deatonsville, the enemy's trains were 
discovered moving in the direction of Burkesville, or Farm- 
ville, escorted by heavy masses of infantry and cavalry, 
and it soon became evident that the whole of Lee's army 
was attempting to make its escape. Crook was at once 
ordered to attack the trains, and if the enemy was too 
strong, one of the divisions would pass him while he held 
fast and pressed the enemy, and attack at a point further 
on, and this division was ordered to do the same, and so 
on, alternating, and this system of attack would enable us 
finally to strike some weak point. This result was 
obtained just south of Sailor's creek, and on the high 
ground over that stream. Custer took the road, and 
Crook and Deven coming "up to his support, sixteen 
pieces of artillery were captured, and about four hundred 
wagons destroyed, and many prisoners were taken, and 
three divisions of the enemy's infantry were cut off from 
the line of retreat. Meanwhile, Colonel Stagg, command- 
ing the Michigan brigade of the first division, was held at 
a point about two and a half miles south of Deatonsville, 
and with this force, and a section of Miller's battery, 
which shelled the trains with excellent effect, while Colonel 
Stagg demonstrated to attack them, thus keeping a large 
force of the enemy from moving against the rest of the 
cavalry, and holding them until the arrival of the sixth 
corps, which was marching to report to me. I felt so 
strongly the necessity of holding this large force of the 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 163 

enemy, that I gave permission to General Merritt to 
order Colonel Stagg's brigade to make a mounted charge 
against their lines, which was most gallantly done, the 
men leaving many of their horses dead almost up to the 
enemy's works. 

On the arrival of the head of the sixth corps the enemy 
commenced withdrawing. Major-General Wright was 
ordered to put Seymour's division into position at once, 
and advance and carry the road, which was done at a 
point about two miles or two miles and a-half from Dea- 
tonsville. As soon as the road was in our possession, 
Wright was directed to push General Seymour on, the 
enemy falling back, skirmishing briskly. Their resistance 
growing stubborn, a halt was called to get up Wheaton's 
division of the sixth corps, which went into position on 
the left of the road, Seymour being on the right. Wheaton 
was ordered to guide right, with his right connecting with 
Seymour's left, and resting on the road. I still felt the 
great importance of pushing the enemy, and was unwill- 
ing to wait for Getty's division of the sixth corps to get 
up. I therefore ordered an advance, sending word to 
General Humphreys, who was on the road to our right, 
and requesting him to push on, as I felt confident that we 
could break up the enemy. It was apparent from the 
absence of artillery fire, and the manner in which they 
gave way when pressed, that the force of the enemy op- 
posed to us was a heavy rear guard. The enemy was 
driven until our lines reached Sailor's creek ; and from 
the north bank I could see our cavalry on the high 
ground above the creek and south of it, and the long line 
of smoke from the burning wagons. A cavalryman, who, 
in a charge, cleared the enemy's works, and came through 
their lines, reported to me what was in front. I regret 
that I have forgotten the name of this gallant young sol- 
dier. As soon as General Wright could get his artillery 
10 



164 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAI^. 

into position, I ordered the attack to be made on the left, 
and sent Colonel Stagg's brigade of cavalry to strike and 
flank the extreme right of the enemy's lines. The attack 
by the infantry was not executed exactly as I had directed, 
and a portion of our line in the open ground was broken 
by the terrible fire of the enemy, who were in position on 
commanding ground south of the creek. 

This attack by Wheaton's and Seymour's divisions was 
splendid, but no more than I had reason to expect from 
the gallant sixth corps. The cavalry in rear of the enemy 
attacked simultaneously, and the enemy, after a gallant re- 
sistance, were completely surrounded, and nearly all threw 
down their arms and surrendered. General Ewell, com- 
manding the enemy's forces, and a number of other gen- 
eral ofiBcers, fell into our hands, and a very large number 
of prisoners. I have never ascertained exactly how many 
prisoners were taken in this battle. Most of them fell 
into the hands of the cavalry, but they are no more entitled 
to claim them than the sixth corps, to which command 
equal credit is due for the good results of this engagement. 
Both the cavalry and the sixth corps encamped south of 
Sailor's creek that night, having followed up the small 
remnant of the enemy's forces for several miles. In refer- 
ence to the participation of the sixth corps in this action, 
1 desire to add that the Lieutenant-General had notified 
me that this corps would report to me. Major McClellan, 
and Lieutenant-Colonel Franklin, of General Wright's 
staff, had successively been sent forward to report the 
progress of the corps in coming up, and on the arrival of 
Major- General Wright he reported his corps to me, and 
from that time until after the battle, received ray orders 
and obeyed them ; but after the engagement was over, and 
General Meade had communicated with General Wright, 
the latter declined to make his report to me until ordered 
to do so by the Lieutenant-General. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 165 

On the Tth instant the pursuit was continued early in 
the morning by the cavalry, General Crook in the advance. 
It was discovered that the enemy had not been cut off by 
the army of the James, and under the belief that he would 
attempt to escape on the Danville road through Prince 
Edward Court House, General Merritt was ordered to 
move his two divisions to that point, passing around the 
left of the Army of the James. General Crook continued 
the direct pursuit, encountering the main body of the 
enemy at Farmville, and again on the north side of the 
Appomattox, when the enemy's trains were attacked by 
General Gregg, and a sharp fight with the enemy's infan- 
try ensued, in which General Gregg was unfortunately 
captured. 

On arriving at Prince Edward Court House, I found 
General McKenzie, with his division of cavalry from the 
Army of the James, and ordered him to cross the bridge 
on the Buffalo river, and make a reconnoissance to Pros- 
pect station, on the Lynchburg railroad, and ascertain if 
the enemy were moving past that point. Meantime, I 
heard from General Crook that the enemy had crossed to 
the north side of the Appomattox, and General Merritt 
was then moved on and encamped at Buffalo creek, and 
General Crook was ordered to recross the Appomattox, 
and encamp at Prospect station. On the morning of the 
8th, Merritt and McKenzie continued the march to Pros- 
pect station, and Merritt's and Crook's commands then 
moved on to Appomattox depot, a point on the Lynch- 
burg railroad, five miles south of Appomattox Court 
House. Shortly after the march commenced, Sergeant 
"White, one of my scouts, notified me that there were four 
trains of cars at Appomattox depot, loaded -with supplies 
for General Lee's army. Generals Merritt and Crook 
were at once notified, and the command pushed on briskly 
for twenty-eight miles. General Custer had the advance, 



166 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

and on nearing the depot, skilfully threw a force in rear 
of the trains and captured them. Without halting a mo- 
ment he pushed on, driving the enemy (who had reached 
the depot about the same time as our cavalry) in the 
direction of Appomattox Court House, capturing many 
prisoners, and twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital 
train, and a large park of wagons. General Deven coming 
up, went in on the right of Custer. The fighting con- 
tinued till after dark, and the enemy being driven to Ap- 
pomattox Court House, I at once notified the Lieutenant- 
General, and sent word to Generals Ord and Gibbon, of 
the Army of the James, and General Griffin, commanding 
the fifth corps, who were in rear, that if they pressed on 
there was now no means of escape for the enemy, who 
had reached ** the last ditch." During the night, although 
we knew that the remnant of Lee's army was in our front, 
we held fast with the cavalry to what we had gained, and 
ran the captured trains back along the railroad to a point 
where they would be protected by our infantry that was 
coming up. The twenty-fourth and fifth corps, and one 
division of the twenty-fifth corps, arrived about daylight 
on the 9th at Appomattox depot. 

After consulting with General Ord, who was in com- 
mand of these corps, I rode to the front, near Appomattox 
Court House, and just as the enemy in heavy force was 
attacking the cavalry with the intention of breaking 
through our lines, I directed the cavalry, which was dis- 
mounted, to fall back, gradually resisting the enemy, so 
as to give time for the infantry to form its lines and march 
to the attack, and when this was done, to move off to the 
right flank and mount. This was done, and the enemy 
discontinued his attack as soon as he caught sight of our 
infantry. I moved briskly around the left of the enemy's 
line of battle, which was falling back rapidly, (heavily 
pressed by the advance of the infantry,) and was about 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 167 

to charge the trains and the confused masses of the enemy, 
when a white flag was presented to General Custer, who 
had the advance, and who sent the information to me at 
once that the enemy desired to surrender. 

Riding over to the left at Appomattox Court House, I 
met Major-General Gordon, of the rebel service, and Major- 
General Wilcox. General Gordon requested a suspension 
of hostilities, pending negotiations for a surrender then 
being held between Lieutenant-General Grant and Gen- 
eral Lee. I notified him that I desired to prevent the 
unnecessary effusion of blood, but as there was nothing 
definitely settled in the correspondence, and as an attack 
had been made on my lines with the view to escape, under 
the impression our force was only cavalry, I must have 
some assurance of an intended surrender. This General 
Gordon gave by saying that there was no doubt of the 
surrender of General Lee's army. I then separated from 
him, with an agreement to meet these ofl&eers again in 
half an hour at Appomattox Court House. At the speci- 
fied time, in company with General Ord, who commanded 
the infantry, I again met this officer and also Lieutenant- 
General Longstreet, and received from them the same 
assurance, and hostilities ceased until the arrival of 
Lieutenant-General Grant. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

P. H. Sheridan, Major- General. 
Brevet Major-General John A. Rawlins, Chief of Staff. 



" Cavalry Headquarters, ") 

"DiNWiDDiE Courthouse, March 31, 1865.) 
" Lieutenant-General Grant, 

" Commanding Armies United States: 
" The enemy's cavalry attacked me about ten o'clock to- 
day, on the road coming in from the west, and a little north 
of Dinwiddle Court House. This attack was very hand- 
somely repulsed by General Smith's brigade of Crook's 



168 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

division, and the enemy was driven across Chamberlain's 
creek. Shortly afterward the enemy's infantry attacked 
on the same creek in heavy force, and drove in General 
Davies' brigade, and advancing rapidly, gained the forks 
of the road at J. Boisseau's. This forced Devon, who was 
in advance, and Davies, to cross to the Boydton road. 
General Gregg's brigade, and General Gibbs' brigade, who 
had been toward Dinwiddle, then attacked the enemy in 
the rear very handsomely. This stopped the march to- 
ward the left of our infantry, and finally caused them to 
turn toward Dinwiddle, and attack us in heavy force. 
The enemy then again attacked at Chamberlain's creek, 
and forced Smith's position. At this time Capehart and 
Pennington's brigades of Custer's division came up and 
a very handsome fight occurred. 

" The enemy have gained some ground, but we still 
hold in front of Dinwidclie, and Davies and Deven are 
coming down the Boydton road to join us. 

" The opposing force was Pickett's division, Wise's in- 
dependent brigade of infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's, Rosser's, 
and W. H. Lee's cavalry commands. 

" The men have behaved splendidly. Our loss in killed 
and wounded will probably number four hundred and fifty 
men ; very few were lost as prisoners. 

" We have of the enemy a number of prisoners. 

" This force is too strong for us. I will hold out to 
Dinwiddle Court House until I am compelled to leave. 

'' Our fighting to-day was all dismounted. 

"P. H. Sheridan, 3Iajor- General." 



" Dabney Mills, > 

" March 31, 1865—10.05 p. M. j 
" Major General Sheridan : 

" The fifth corps has been ordered to your support. Two 
divisions will go by J. Boisseau's, and one down the Boyd- 
ton road. In addition to this I have sent McKenzie's cav- 
alry, which will reach you by the Yaughan road. 

" All these forces except the cavalry should reach you 
by twelve o'clock to-night. 

" You will assume command of the whole force sent to 
operate \v4th you, and use it to the best of your ability 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 169 

to destroy the force which your command has fought so 
gallantly to-day. 

" U. S. Grant, Lieutenant- GeneraV^ 

REBEL FLAGS CAPTURED. 

The following are inscriptions on rebel flags captured 
by General Sheridan's command, near Winchester, Vir- 
ginia, September 19, 1864, and now deposited in the 
War Department : 

REBEL NATIONAL FLAG. 

Captured September 19, 1864, near Winchester, Yir- 
ginia, by Andrew J. Lorish, Commissary Sergeant of the 
first New York dragoons, of the second brigade, first 
cavalry division. 

REBEL BATTLE FLAG. 

Captured September, 19, 1864, near Winchester, Yir- 
ginia, by Sergeant Henry M. Fox, company M fifth 
Michigan cavalry, first brigade, first division cavalry. 

OLD STYLE REBEL NATIONAL FLAG. 

Captured September 19, 1864, near Winchester, Yir- 
ginia, by private Gabriel Cole, company I fifth Michigan 
cavalry, first brigade, first division cavalry. 

REBEL BATTLE FLAG. 

Captured September 19, 1864, near Winchester, Yir- 
ginia, by George E. Meach, farrier company I sixth New 
York cavalry, second brigade, first cavalry division. 

VIRGINIA STATE FLAG. 

Captured September 19, 1864, near Winchester, Vir- 
ginia, by Patrick McEnroe, private company D sixth New 
York cavalry, second brigade, first cavalry division. 

VIRGINIA STATE FLAG. 

Captured September 19, 1864, near Winchester, Vir- 
ginia, by George Reynolds, private company M ninth 
New York cavalry, second brigade, first cavalry division 



170 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

REBEL BATTLE FLAG. 

Battle flag of second Yirginia infantry, Old Stonewall 
brigade, Early's corps. Thirteen battles inscribed upon 
it. Captured by the thirty-seventh Massachusetts volun- 
teer infantry, third brigade, first division, sixth army 
corps, at battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864. 

Captor taken or killed. 
G. L. Montague, Lt. Col. Com'g ^*lth Mass. Vols. 

REBEL NATIONAL FLAG. 

Captured September 19, 1864, near Winchester, Yir- 
ginia, by color-corporal Charles B. Bo wen, company I 
first New York dragoons, second brigade, first cavalry 
division. 

A medal of honor has been conferred upon each of the 
captors of these rebel colors, 

A medal has also been awarded to corporal Isaac Gause, 
company E second Iowa calvary, for giving important in- 
formation and acting as a guide, by w^hich means the 
capture of a rebel regiment was effected, September 13, 
1864. 

SUMMARY OP CAVALRY CAPTURES IN THE 
SHENANDOAH. 

** Headquarters First Cavalry Division,) 

''November ]6, 1864. . j 

List of property and, prisoners captured by the first 
cavalry division, from August 16 to November 15, 1864 : 

Prisoners of war — enlisted men 1,690 

Prisoners of war — commissioned officers 122 

Pieces of artillery 29 

Caissons 12 

Army wagons 36 

Ambulances 41 

Forges ^ 2 

Mules V- 1*^2 

Horses 134 

Loss of harness 263 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 171 

CAPTURED AND DESTROYED. 

Army wagons C. S. and U. S., loaded with quarter- 
master's and ordnance stores 60 

Forges 3 

Caissons 2 

Limbers 4 

Ambulances .^. 28 

Maskets ? 81 

Battle flags captured 14 

Estimate of property destroyed by first cavalry division 
during the campaign in the Shenandoah valley : 

NUMBER. VALUE. 

Barns 630 $1,693,000 

Flour mills 4t 314,000 

Tons of hay 3,345 103,670 

Bushels of wheat 410,742 1,026,105 

Saw mills 4 8,000 

Furnaces 3 450,000 

Woolen mill 1 10,000 

Acres of corn 515 18,000 

Bushels of oats 750 750 

Cattle driven off 1,347 36,380 

Sheep 1,281 6,340 

Swine 725 8,000 

Barrels of flour 560 6,720 

Tons of straw 255 2,550 

Tons of fodder 272 2,720 

Tanneries 2 4,000 

Railroad depot 1 3,000 

Locomotive engine 1 10,000 

Box cars 7 1,500 

Total money value $3,304,735 

Theodore W. Bean, Quartermaster and Provost 

Marshal First Cavalry Division. 



Headquarters Third Division, Cavalry Corps, ) 

November 17, 1864. j 

Property captured by the third cavalry division, and 
turned over, and receipts received therefor : 

A rti] lery, pieces 51 

Caissons 30 



172 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, 

Battery wagOQ 1 

Army wagons 44 

Spring wagons and ambulances 28 

Medicine wagon 1 

Horses 426 

Mules 189 

Sets of artillery harness 20*7 

Sets of wagon harness 19t 

Heads of beef cattle 152 

Property destroyed by the third cavalry division : 

NUMBER. VALUE. 

riour mills 15 $100,000 

Saw mills,,.,,..,. 10 60,000 

Barns, containing wheat, etc... 400 600,000 

Bushels of wheat 200,000 400,000 

Bushels of corn 300,000 400,009 

Bushels of oats 90,000 130,000 

Cattle driven off...., 500 15,000 

Sheep driven off 400 8,000 

Columbia furnace 1 100,000 

Caissons 3 1,000 

Wagons 15 15,000 

Total $1,155,000 

C. W. Lee, Captain and Provost Marshal, 

Third Cavalry Division, M. 31. D. 

THE SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION. 

The following is a list (unofScially) of property captured 
and destroyed by the second cavalry divison since August 

1, 1864: 

Thirteen cannon captured. 

Ten caissons captured. 

One battery forge captured. 

Twenty-five wagons captured. 

Five ambulances captured. 

Seven thousand head of cattle captured. 

Two thousand head of beef cattle captured. 

One thousand set of horse equipments captured. 

Ninety-two sets of artillery harness captured. 

Seventy-five sets of wagon harness captured. 

Ten sets of ambulance harness captured. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 173 

Three caissons destroyed. 
Forty wagons destroyed. 
Five ambulances destroyed. 

Seven hundred thousand rounds of ammunition de- 
stroyed. 

Three thousand stand of small arms destroyed. 

In addition to the foregoing, more than two million 
dollars' worth of property was destroyed, such as gj'ain, 
forage, mills, tanneries, factories, etc. 

In addition, also, to the articles of property enumerated 
there were taken by the division within the time specified, 
one thousand five hundred and fifty-five prisoners ; killed 
of the enemy, one hundred and fifty, and wounded, five 
hundred, and nine battle flags captured. Also the bridge 
of the Orange and Alexandria railroad crossing at the 
Rapidan river. 

In regard to the above captures, etc., it may be said that 
they were made separately, and by direct attacks. That 
is, they were not taken at the time of the general move- 
ments of the army, but at periods when the division 
moved and attacked the enemy alone. 

Referring to the lack of cavalry in the first part of the 
last attacks on Richmond, the Army and Navy Journal 
says : 

There seems to have been lack of cavalry. The divi- 
sions we had on either side was well employed, and Gregg 
had brisk fighting. But the Army of the Potomac has 
now much less of this arm even than the Army of the 
Shenandoah. It misses its cavalry very much. Cavalry 
are the eyes of an army. Cavalry are the antlers of an 
army, wherewith it may feel its way. In such a country 
as southwestern Virginia, cavalry is especially needed. 
Hancock's left was well protected with it, Gregg sweeping 
about through all the country on that flank, and afterward 
coming up again to protect the left and rear, when line 
of battle was formed on the Boydton plank road. This 



174 LIFE OF MAJOK-GENEEAL SHERIDAN. 

latter connection was nut completed till after mid-day, 
since there was much scouting and skirmishing to do in 
the interim. Now, whether it would have been possible 
for more cavalry to manoeuvre on these particular roads, 
must be considered from this distance, somewhat a matter 
of conjecture. But we judge that such cavalry would 
have been useful, and especially in two ways : to scout 
on the intricate and tortuous roads between the second 
and fifth corps, and to forewarn us of Mahone's attack on 
the flank. 



^ ♦ • » » 



CHAPTER XIIL 

TESTIMONY TO THE VALUE OF AMERICAN CAVALRY. 

One cannot help noticing the great improvement in the 
fighting qualities of the cavalry by their last year's practice. 
Scores of instances were recorded by the Journal, in which 
our cavalry were reported to have been routed by inferior 
numbers of rebel infantry, in the tangled woods and 
swamps of Yirginia ; and scores of instances occurred, also, 
in which our infantry routed superior numbers of rebel 
cavalry. Neither our cavalry nor the rebel could be ex- 
pected to contend with infantry and artillery. But there 
is no question that our cavalry grew, at last, to be vastly 
superior to that of the rebels. When Sheridan took it in 
hand, it was almost amusing to notice the astonishment 
with which the cavalrymen found how they were shoved 
into battle. Grant's instructions to Sheridan at the battle 
of the Wilderness, are said to have been " to find the enemy 
and whip him." The words are so characteristic of Grant, 
and corresponding so nearly to the " instructions" he often 
gave his officers, and to the " strategy" he employed hitn- 
self, that, if the story is not true, it is well invented. Sheri- 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 175 

dan did find the enemy, stretching out on our left flank, 
and though he did not whip him, yet he got his own caval- 
ry into fighting trim, and afterward led it to be of the 
greatest service. The last movement of Sheridan's caval. 
ry was its greatest. And its march from Winchester to 
White House, and from White House to Dinwiddle, to turn 
Lee's right, and its part in the engagements and final pur- 
suit, are worthy of the greatest praise. 

These statements, which we find in an able review of 
Colonel Brackett's " History of the United States Cavalry," 
in the ^^ Army and Navy Journal,^^ are all abundantly veri- 
fied by history ; Mexico and the last war fully attest their 
truth. 

The Mounted Rifles were sent to Oregon, under Loring, 
and, meanwhile, in 1850, Hardee made a campaign against 
the Camanches and Apaches, in which Steen, Oaks, Grier 
and others were distinguished. In 1851 and 1852, Colonel 
Sumner made his march to the canon of Chelly, in New 
Mexico. Colonel Brackett says that " in the canon of 
Chelly, Sumner's dragoons did not gather many laurels, 
though they did their duty ; but the Indians were too 
wily for them, and, lining the sides of the pass, or canon, 
they rolled down rocks, fired guns, and shot arrows at 
our troops, until they were glad to retrace their steps. 
It was, I believe, on this march that the song was composed 
by a soldier, which nearly all cavalrymen know, and 
which is sung to the tune of the ' Stable-call.' It runs 
thus : 

" Come off to the stables, all if you are able, 

And give your horses some oats and some corn ; 

For if you don't do it the colonel will know it, 
And then you will rue it as sure's you're born.** 

The following extract is taken from Colonel Brackett's 
" History of the United States Cavalry." 

All cavalry in the United States service is light cavalry. 



176 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENEEAL SHERIDAN. 

Now the question will be asked what is the distinction be- 
tween the light and heavy cavalry and the dragoons. 

Heavy cavalry in the European armies consists of large 
men in defensive armor, mounted on heavy, powerful 
horses. The power of this arm lies in the strength and 
breeding of the horses, and the courage and activity of the 
riders. The men wear helmets, and cuirasses, and heavy 
equipments. The helmet is a piece of defensive armor or 
covering for the head, worn by nearly all of the cavalry 
regiments of Europe, and has been found, after ages of 
use, to be the only proper head-covering for mounted 
men. Our own big, unwieldy uniform felt hat is nothing 
more or less than ridiculous, and our forage cap is little 
better. 

The helmets worn by the soldiers of olden times were 
some of them models of beauty, strength and grace. The 
helmet of the Romans was a head-piece of iron or brass, 
which descended behind as far as the shoulders, and left 
the face uncovered. Upon the top was the crest, in adorn- 
ing which the soldiers took great pride. The usual adorn- 
ment was horse-hair, or feathers of divers colors. The 
helmets of the officers were sometimes very splendid, being 
adorned with gold and silver. A dragon was used as the 
crest of the helmet by the mounted soldiers in the middle 
ages, hence the name dragoon. 

The cuirass is another piece of defensive armor, made 
of plate well hammered, serving to cover the body from the 
neck to the waist both before and behind, called breast and 
back plate. The cuirassiers of the armies of Europe wear 
the cuirass. The helmets worn by the Russian soldiers 
are both serviceable and beautiful. 

The heavy cavalry, then, consists of heavy men and 
heavy horses, who are used upon occasion to hurl down 
upon the enemy, and by their weight alone overpower 
them. It is questionable whether they are of much ser- 



LIFE OF MAJOK-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 177 

vice, and no doubt we are as well ofif without them. They 
are incapable of doing the same duty that is required of 
the light cavalry, as even short marches break down both 
men and horses. They are more formidable in appearance 
than in reality. 

Dragoons are next to be considered. They were origi- 
nally organized to act either as cavalry or infantry skir- 
mishers — a sort of hybrid corps to do duty on foot or on 
horseback ; now they are simply a body of regular caval- 
ry soldiers, in some countries divided into heavy and light 
dragoons. 

All of the cavalry which has been organized in the 
United States is properly designated as light cavalry. The 
laws of Congress made two regiments of dragoons, one of 
mounted riflemen, and two of cavalry. It was no doubt 
intended to make the dragoons and cavalry all one arm, 
but a fault in the law, which was subsequently remedied, 
made it otherwise, and Jefferson Davis, who was Secre- 
tary of War, took advantage of it, and made two arms, 
thereby securing promotion for his favorites in the caval- 
ry arm without reference to the dragoons. Army men 
will readily understand this distinction. 

During the Mexican war the dragoons were armed 
with musketoons, which were carried on sling-belts, 
except when marching, dragoon sabres of the Prussian 
pattern, and horse-pistols. This was unchanged for sev- 
eral years afterward. The Mounted Rifles were armed 
with percussion rifles and Colt's army revolvers — no sabres. 
The revolvers were supplied to all cavalrymen as soon as 
was convenient. The cavalry regiments were armed with 
sabres, rifle carbines, and Colt's navy revolvers. Why 
they were not armed with army revolvers no person could 
ever give a good reason. The sabre in Indian fighting is 
simply a nuisance ; they jingle abominably, and are of no 
earthly use. If a soldier gets close enough to an Indian 



178 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

to use a sabre, it is about an even tbing as to vvhicb goes 
under first. 

The trimming of the dragoon jackets after the close of 
the Mexican war was orange, and that of the Rifles 
green. The cavalry had, and still have, yellow. The 
dragoons and Rifles exulted in what was known as the 
" Albert hat," with orange and green pompons. The 
cavalry got — God knows where — the " cavalry hat " 
familiar to theatre goers as that worn by Era Diavolo. If 
the whole earth had been ransacked, it is difficult to tell 
where a more ungainly piece of furniture could have been 
found. It is now used by the whole army, being some- 
what more unwieldy than the original pattern. It seems 
to me that soldiers take delight in seeing into what ludic- 
rous shapes they can get these hats, with a tassel hanging 
in front, on one side, or behind, and a black ostrich feather, 
which, after one or two wettings, has a most bedraggled 
and wilted appearance. The forage cap is a poor imitation 
of the French kepis, and seems with us to run mostly to 
visor. The old fashioned dragoon cap was both graceful 
and soldierly. 

The saddle used in the cavalry now is that known as 
the McClellan saddle, which was patented after his visit to 
Europe by General McClellan. The soldiers like it, as it 
is easy to ride on, and does not give a horse a sore back 
unless carelessly used. Men who ride saddles are generally 
the best judges of them, though heads of department 
sometimes think differently. It is fair, then, to say that 
the SB,ddle, if it had a breast-strap, is a good one, as it has 
the verdict of the men in its favor. I do not like the 
bridle so well. The bit is ordinarily too powerful for the 
horse ; it is made of poor steel, and the curb-chain is apt 
to straighten out upon pulling the reins. This could, no 
doubt, be remedied. I think, however, a decided improve- 
ment could be made in the choice of bits. 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 179 

The swiftest horses are not always the best in cavalry. 
If all were equally fast, it would be very well, but, in 
making a charge upon any given point, a few horses will 
always come out ahead, and leave their companions far in 
the rear. Officers who insist upon their men preserving 
their lines in a charge, insist upon an impossibility. 

Another subject has impressed itself strongly upon my 
mind, which is the fact that, in our regular service, the 
horses are groomed too much. I cannot say that this 
applies to volunteers. In my own experience, the fault 
with them lies the other way. What I mean is this, that 
in winter time, when the weather is cold, and the horses, 
as is almost always the case with us, are without suitable 
shelter, the grooming the horse one hour at daybreak, and 
one hour just before sunset, is absolutely hurtful. Some 
cavalry officers, who have been taught certain rules, insist 
upon the men keeping at work steadily one hour on each 
horse, without any regard to time, place, circumstances, 
or any thing else. Now, in the 6ne stables which the 
military of France and Great Britian have, it may do well 
to keep the horses looking sleek-coated, giving them each 
day gentle exercise ; but with us, who have our poor ani- 
mals trembling the great part of the winter from sheer 
cold, it is worse than nonsense to tear up their hides each 
day by means of the curry-comb and brush. The pores 
are left open, the skin is scratched, and the wretched ani- 
mal stands crouched up all night, suffering from the effects 
of this well-meant, but this ill-administered grooming. 
The condition of our poor horses sometimes in winter is 
such as to make any heart susceptible of pity feel the 
most profound sorrow. But this I do not find fault with ; 
in actual campaign both men and horses must suffer, but 
do not let us cavalry people make our only friends — our 
horses — suffer unnecessarily. British and French officers 
may think this singular advice, but they must recollect 
11 



180 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

that their cavahy force is small compared with ours, and 
they have every convenience to make themselves and their 
horses comfortable — good stables, plenty of forage, and 
nice roads to travel upon. 

About marching, too, a few hints may not be amiss. 
. In starting out after feeding, let the horses walk about one 
hour, when a halt of fifteen minutes ought to be sounded. 
Let the men close up, and then dismount. This eases the 
horse, gives him a chance to breathe a short time, and 
makes him feel better. When ready to start, tighten up 
the girths, which will be found to have slackened up, one 
or two holes. Do not let the saddle be loose on the back ; 
it should sit snug ; but, at the same time, caution all 
soldiers not to draw too tightly, as I have seen some 
dreadful sores made on horses' sides by the ring and strap 
which is used on the McClellan saddle, and which is bor- 
rowed from the Mexicans. 

About riding, I have to say that soldiers must learn to 
ride themselves, and time alone will make good riders. 
Some men never do know how to ride, and never learn. 
The sooner they are got rid of the better. Great, beefy 
creatures some of them are, who have no more elasticity 
than a dead animal, and who worry and fret their poor 
horses almost to madness. Our men are generally (I 
mean the Americans) natural riders, and soon become 
good horsemen. They quickly learn how to take care 
of horses. This is particularly the case where the men 
become attached to their animals, and make pets of them. 
I have known many a soldier to sit up half the night in 
order to get a chance to steal a feed for his horse. This 
venial offence is forgiven generally by the officers. The 
quartermasters are the sufferers, but they always manage 
some way to keep even. 

As to riders, the United States cavalry, under the old 
system, had few superiors. The English, as a general 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 181 

thing, are most wretched riders, and it is no wonder that 
they are almost universally whipped whenever they go into 
battle. The " bumping " up and down on their saddles is 
not only excruciating to themselves, but ruinous to their 
unfortunate animals. Nolan, in his work on cavalry, 
speaks in the most disparaging terms of the English 
cavalry, as does Lieuten ant-General Sir Charles James 
Napier : and no doubt justly so, as it is hard to imagine 
a more helpless body of men than they are. Poor Nolan 
himself lost his life while charging at Balaklava, where 
the English horse was entirely cut to pieces by the 
Russians. 

After a hard day's march, or, indeed, any march in hot 
weather, upon halting, the saddle should be removed, the 
saddle-blanket turned and left on the horse, strapped on 
by the surcingle. This will prevent saddle-boils. After 
the saddle is removed, nearly every horse wishes to roll. 
He should be allowed to do so, the man keeping hold of 
the halter-strap or lariat while he is rolling. Ordinary 
marches for cavalry should not exceed eighteen miles per 
day. The horses should be watered once or twice on the 
march, if it is convenient, and should be allowed to drink 
as much water as they want, provided they are moved on 
after drinking, but on no account should they, after march- 
ing some distance, be allowed to drink and cool. If this 
is permitted, nine cases out of ten the animals will be 
foundered. Officers should be continually on their guard 
watching recruits in this respect, as by its neglect many a 
fine animal has been ruined. In cold weather care should 
be taken to see that the horses are well blanketed during 
the night' and, if necessary, men should be detailed to keep 
the blankets on, as horses are apt to rub or kick them off. 
No man can be a good cavalry officer unless he is continu- 
ally on the alert, looking out for the welfare of his horses. 



182 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

Cavalry soldiers generally do well enough for themselves, 
but cavalry horses must be looked after. 

A march of a thousand miles is a better school for a 
recruit than all of the riding-halls ever built, and United 
States soldiers are often sent across the continent of 
North America merely as a part of a summer campaign. 

Horses, shoes should be inspected frequently, as, in spite 
of every care, shoes are sometimes left on too long, and 
sometimes they are knocked off, and the horse, on a rocky 
road, becomes lame at once. The Indians never shoe 
their horses ; the hoofs of their animals become as hard 
nearly as flint. They go over the rockiest roads with our 
cavalry chasing them, and as soon as the shoes of our 
horses are torn off by the rocks they become disabed, and 
the Indians laugh at our efforts to overtake them. 

The shoeing tools of the farrier should consist of a thoe- 
ing knife, a toe knife, a shoeing hammer, a clinching iron, 
a clinch-cutter, a pair of pincers, and a rasp. What is 
known as a buttress should never be used, nor ought a 
shoe to be put on while hot, any more than is sufficient to 
show that it is of the right shape. When starting on a 
march each horse ought to have two shoes at least fitted, 
so that the farrier will have nothing to do but nail them 
on in case any are lost while travelling. Altogether too 
little attention is paid to shoeing by cavalry officers. 
Whatever relates to the care and training of his horses is 
a part of his profession, and the smallest matter ought not 
to be neglected. 

A good rider will always make a good raider. 

As to the equipment, there is no doubt but there is now 
too much weight on the waist-belt. The sabre hangs on 
it, also the cartridge box, with twenty or forty rounds in 
it, and the revolver. This is altogether too much, and 
breaks many a man down, causing disease of various 
kinds, which are ruinous to cavalrymen. Some system of 



LIFE OP MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 183 

shoulder-belts ought to be devised to lighten up the strain 
which now bears with so much weight and such ill effects 
upon a particular part of the body. 

Our sabres are never really sharp, and good officers 
think there is no way of keeping them so as long as we 
continue to use the steel scabbard. But the question is, 
what are we going to get to replace it with ? Nolan says 
the sabres used by the East India native cavalry are con- 
demned English sword-blades, sharpened to the keenest 
edge, and kept in wooden scabbards. They are never 
drawn except in action, where, according to his account, 
they do dreadful execution. 

Our revolvers, of Colt's pattern, cannot at present be 
much improved upon. 

Sharp's carbines are the favorite cavalry carbines, 
though upon this subject there is a diversity of opinion, 
each commander having some pet arm which he thinks 
superior to any other. Our cavalrymen ought to have 
good carbines, as our general officers employ them in every 
conceivable way ; and it is really surprising how much, 
and how many different kinds of work they are called 
upon to perform. Some of our sapient political brigadier- 
generals can use up a cavalry regiment with a rapidity 
truly astonishing, and their ignorance is only exceeded by 
their conceit. In our rebellion, in many instances, the 
less a man knew about military matters, the better officer 
he was supposed to be. 

Within the last eighteen months there has-been a de- 
cided improvement in the carbines and accoutrements 
which have been issued to the cavalry. It is now con- 
ceded that the Spencer carbine, or rifle, is by all odds the 
best shooting weapon ever issued to mounted men ; and 
the cartridge-box invented by Colonel Erastus Blakeslee, 
late of the first regiment of Connecticut cavalry, leaves 
but little to be desired. This cartridge-box is carried by 



184: LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

a belt over the right shoulder, thus relieving the strain on 
the abdomen. With it seven cartridges are loaded as 
quickly ais one by the ordinary method, and it is more 
easily carried than any box in use. 



The world-wide fame of our American cavalry, as a 
distinctive body, commences almost, as has been said, 
with the present war ; and by brilliant names the service 
is illuminated. At the head of the list, in our opinion, 
stand the memorable names of John Buford and Philip 
H. Sheridan. They are par excellence the American 
cavalry leaders. John Buford, alas, died before his name 
could ring through the world, or even through the coun- 
try, as it did among his friends and among the students 
of the art of war. He died on the 16th day of December, 
1863, before the great final campaign had begun. His 
granite monument at West Point records the simple story 
of the affection of the officers and men of his command, 
by whom it was erected. He was the best of cavalry 
officers while he lived, and the most promising when he 
died. He was the personification of bravery, coolness, 
skill, prescience in battle, and overflowing kindness to 
his men. Of these qualities a thousand instances could 
be related. His successor in command of the cavalry of 
the army of the Potomac, the renowned " Phil Sheridan," 
achieved greater distinction with that body, and far wider 
reputation, by means of a more vigorous leadership in 
the army in general, and by a personal dash and deter- 
mination worthy of the highest praise. 

Sheridan did not so much add new principles or new 
education to the cavalry force. He did not arrange it in 
any peculiar and brilliant style of organization and dis- 
cipline. As an organizer and disciplinarian, indeed, he 
would not claim to be distinguished ; but he fought it 
through thick and thin. He fought it as it had never 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 185 

before been fought. He knew no such word as failure. 
He was "irrepressible." If repulsed, he quickly went at 
it again. In a single word, he fought this army as Grant 
did the whole tremendous army of the Potomac, with the 
irresistible force of a Suwarrow. His victories in the 
valley of the Shenandoah were those which first entitled 
him to general applause, though he had made daring raids 
previously, and of course had had a record fine enough to 
gain his appointment to high command. At Cedar creek 
he "plucked up drowning honor by the locks." Review- 
ing that occurrence, the Journal declared he could claim 
to be the Desaix of the war. Desaix, who on the noon 
of Marengo, glancing at his watch, said, " It is a battle 
lost, but it is not too late to win another" — was equalled 
by Sheridan, riding with foaming horse from Winchester 
to Middletown, in season to save the day. And the 
London Times of August 16th, in decrying what is called 
Sheridan's " irrepressible rhodomontade" on the Mexican 
" campaign, in air projected by his very hot and vigorous 
Irish brain," yet added: "We must speak of the man, 
militarily, with great respect. He was the Desaix of the 
civil war, one of the few generals in history who, joining 
an army defeated, re- won the lost battle on the spot, by 
leading beaten troops to a victorious charge." Sheridan, 
indeed, added to the cavalry the very element it wanted, 
that of " dash," combined with a bull-dog stubbornness. 
His achievements in turning the right flank of Lee at 
Five Forks, and in the subsequent pursuit, culminated 
his reputation as the first of American cavalrymen in the 
field. 

Apropos to American cavalry achievements, a late 
number of the Army and Navy Journal adds : 

" We have seen with great pleasure a series of sketches 
illustrating the final march of Sheridan's cavalry of the 
army of the Potomac from Winchester to White House, 



186 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

and from White House via Dinwiddie to Appomattox 
Court House. In this grand movement, which began 
with badly breaking one of Lee's lines of communication 
with the rear, and ended in turning his right flank, after 
the gallant action at Five Forks, the cavalry bore a con- 
spicuous part. The sketches were made upon the spot, 
and are of unusual taste and perfect accuracy. They em- 
brace many views of the cavalry on the march at different 
points ; of Lee's treaty, camp, and surrender ; of promi- 
nent officers of both armies, etc. The artist is Major 
J. Spreadburg, who served as assistant adjutant-general 
in the cavalry corps, and as A. I. G. cavalry, M. M. di- 
vision. We should like to see these sketches published, 
with a running and official commentary on the scenes they 
set forth." 

OFFICIAL REPORT. 

" HeadqUx\rters Fifth Army Corps, ) 
" Nottoway Court House, Ya., April 29, 1865. | 
"Lieutenant- Colonel F. C. Newhall, Assistant Adju- 
tant-General, Headquarters Cavalry Corps: 
" Colonel : — I have the honor to submit the following 
report of the operations of my command while serving 
under Major-General Sheridan : 

" On the morning of April 1st, the first division, fifth 
army corps, which was then holding a position on the 
White Oak rond, near the Dabney house, was ordered by 
Major-Geneiai Warren to move at 5 a. M.,in the direc- 
tion of Dinwiddie Court House, and report to Major- 
General Sheridan. After moving something over three 
miles, the cavalry division under General Deven was 
met, when the first division was halted, and its presence 
soon after reported to the major general commanding. 
Major-General Warren arrived between 9 and 10 a. m., 
and the troops remained massed at this point until about 
two o'clock, p. M., when they were moved to within 
about a mile of Five Forks, where the corps was placed 
in line of battle ; the first division being on the right flank 
formed in three lines, with one brigade on its right in 



LIFE OP MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 187 

echelon, the third division, Brevet Major-General Craw- 
ford, in the centre, and the second division, Brevet Major- 
General Ayres, on the left. 

" Immediately after the order to advance against the 
enemy was given, (who was supposed to be intrenched at 
Five Forks,) with instructions to the division, that after 
it had crossed the road it was to change direction to the 
left, so as to strike the enemy in flank or rear. After ad- 
vancing about a mile, and finding nothing in front, save a 
few cavalry videttes, and there being heavy volleys of 
musketry to the left and rear, the division was halted, and 
upon a personal examination, it was found that the enemy 
was moving up the White Oak road. Immediately the 
division was faced by the left flank, and marched some 
four or five hundred yards, when its direction as to the 
line of battle was changed perpendicularly to the left, and 
moved down at a double-quick upon the enemy, who was 
visible some three-quarters of a mile distant, moving up the 
White Oak road. The enemy's rifle-pits were taken, to- 
gether with about (see note) fifteen hundred prisoners and 
several flags. Here a little confusion resulted from the troops 
exchanging shots with the cavalry, who were coming up in 
front of the enemy's works. After a few minutes' delay, 
the line of battle was again changed perpendicularly to 
the White Oak road and the enemy's works. This change 
brought the first division on the left of the third. The 
command was then pushed forward along the rifle-pits, 
capturing prisoners, and driving the enemy before 
it, until they advanced to the Five Forks, where the 
cavalry and infantry met, capturing five guns, several 
caissons, and the third brigade, first division, taking on 
the Fork road a train of wagons and ambulances belong- 
to Pickett's division. About this point Major-General 
Sheridan in person directed me to take command of the 
fifth corps, and push the enemy down the White Oak 
road. I immediately directed General Ayres and tlie 
other commanders to push forward with all possible 
despatch, and the pursuit was kept up until after dark, when 
the command was halted, the cavalry having pushed to 
the front, out of sight and hearing of the infantry. Soon 
after this an order was received from the major-general 
commanding, to withdraw the corps some three miles, and 



188 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENEEAL SHERIDAN. 

camp near Gravelly Run church. The corps went in 
bivouac about 11 p. M. 

" On the morning of April 2d, the command moved 
down the White Oak road some two miles, and massed 
near the Dabnej house, where it remained until about 
11 A. M., when it returned to the Five Forks, and moved 
across Hatcher's run, on the Ford road, and across the 
Southside railroad to the Coxe road, driving the enemy's 
cavalry (Fitz Hugh Lee's division) before it, and camping 
at night at the Williamson house, at the intersection of 
the Namozine road with the River road. The third 
division under General Crawford, was detached at this 
point, and directed to co-operate with General Merritt, 
who was confronting the enemy near the Namozine river. 

"April 3d. — The command moved along the River road 
to the Namozine creek, thence across to the ford taken by 
the cavalry, bivouacking for the night in the vicinity of 
Deep creek. 

"April 4th. — The command moved at five o'clock, A. m., 
via Dennisville, and before dark was found in line of 
battle below Jetersville, with its left extending across the 
Danville railroad. During the night a line of rifle-pits 
was constructed in front of the corps. The command re- 
mained in this position during the whole of the 5th inst. 

"At Y.40 p. M., April 5th, an order was received from 
the major-general commanding directing me to report for 
orders to Major-General Meade, commanding the army 
of the Potomac. 

" On the morning of the 2d, at the Five Forks, between 
three and four thousand stand of arms and several caissons 
and wagons were destroyed, there being no transportation 
for them. 

" I desire to call to the especial attention of the major- 
general commanding. Brevet Major-Generals Ayres and 
Bartlett, Brigadier-General Chamberlain, and Brevet Brig- 
adier-General Gregory, for their efficiency and promptness 
in executing my orders, and in the management of their com- 
mands in the battle of the 1st inst. ; also Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Richardson, commanding seventh Wisconsin veteran 
volunteers, who came under my personal observation — he 
handled his regiment with great ability, and displayed 
great energy in pushing his command after the enemy. 

" The number of prisoners captured from the enemy 



LIFE OF MAJOK-GENEEAL SHERIDAN. 189 

and received by the provost-marshal of the corps on the 
1st inst., was three thousand two hundred and forty-four, 
including one hundred and thirty-two officers. The num- 
ber picked up on the subsequent days was nine hundred 
and forty-four, including forty-two officers. 

"A report of flags captured and the names of the cap- 
tors, has already been forwarded with the flags, to the 
headquarters of the cavalry corps. 

" I submit herewith a list — numerical and tabular — of 
the casualties in my command in the battle of the 1st inst. 

" I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
'*Chas. Griffin, Brevet Major-General.''^ 

''Note. — The official report from the commanding offi- 
cer first division, states the number of prisoners taken by 
the division on the 1st inst., to be as follows : 

" First brigade, one thousand and fifty men, two colonels, 
six captains, and eleven lieutenants ; second brigade, four 
hundred and seventy-five men ; third brigade, eight hun- 
dred and forty-nine men, three captains, and five lieu- 
tenants. Total, twenty-seven officers and two thousand 
three hundred and seventy-four men. 

" There were three brass guns (light twelve-pounders) 
abandoned by the enemy upon the Namozine road, and 
hauled in and turned over by my direction. These guns 
have not been mentioned in the body of this report. 

"In compliance with orders from Major-General Sheri- 
dan, received April 5th, at Y.40 P. M., I reported to 
Major-General Meade, with the fifth corps, at Jetersville, 
for orders. At 6 A. m., on the 6th inst., in compliance 
with orders from headquarters army of the Potomac, the 
fifth corps moved from Jetersville, along the Danville rail- 
road, in the direction of Amelia Court House, to attack 
the enemy, the second division, under General Ayres, 
taking the advance, the sixth corps connecting on the 
right, and the second corps on the left. After moving 
about three miles, to a place called " Smith's shop," un- 
doubted evidence was received that the enemy had left 
our front, and had gone westward*. The command was 
halted, and this information sent to the major-general 
commanding, when orders were received to move to the 
north on the Pridersville road, thence to move on the 
right of the army. The advance was continued, via 



} 



190 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

Painesville, to the vicinity of Ligenstone ferry, meeting 
with no opposing forces save small detachments of cav- 
alry, and capturing about three hundred prisoners and 
many wagons. The distance marched this day was 
thirty-two miles. 

"April Yth, moved at 5 A. M., in obedience to instruc- 
tions, for Farmsville, via Rice's store ; the head of the 
column arriving near High bridge, orders were received at 
9.30 A. M. to pass in rear of the second and sixth corps, 
and move with all possible despatch to Prince Edward's 
Court House, which point was reached about T.SO P. m., 
marching about twenty miles. 

*' April 8th the corps marched toward the Lynchburg 
railroad, in obedience to the following order : 

" 'Headquarters Armies United States, 
" 'Farmville, April, t, 1865. 
*' * General Meade : 

" * Order the fifth corps to follow the twenty-fourth, at 6 
a. m., up the Lynchburg road; the second and sixth to 
follow the enemy north of the river. 

"'IT. S. Grant, Lieutenant- General. 
" ' Official — E. S. Parker, Lieut.- Colonel, and A. A. A. G.^ 

" Striking in at ' Prospect Station,' about 12m., thence 
following the twenty-fourth corps toward Appomattox 
Court House, bivouacking the next morning about 2 a. m. 
within about two miles of the above place, having marched 
a distance of twenty-nine miles. The march from Prospect 
Station was very slow and tedious, the road being ob- 
structed by the repeated and long halts of the twenty- 
fourth corps. 

''April 9th — The corps moved at 4 A. m., reaching 
General Sheridan's headquarters near Appomattox Court 
Plouse about 6 a. m., very soon after it was reported that 
the cavalry were heavily engaged and hard pressed. The 
twenty-fourth corps was moving out, when the second 
division under General Ayres moved on a parallel line 
rapidly toward the firing. A message was received from 
General Sheridan through his aide. Captain Martin, that 
the enemy was pressing back the cavalry. General Ayres 
immediately pushed forward his division at double quick, 
and deployed the one hundred and ninetieth and one 
hundred and ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers, under 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 191 

Colonel Pattee, as skirmishers, (they being armed with 
the Spencer rifle,) and the rest of the division in two lines 
of battle. The first division under General Bartlett, came 
up on the right and formed two lines of battle, with the 
one hundred and fifty-fifth Pennsylvania, a portion of the 
one hundred and ninety-eighth Pemisylvania, and the one 
hundred and eighty-fifth New York Volunteers, as a 
skirmish line. All immediately moved forward and at- 
tacked the enemy, pushing him back, and driving both the 
infantry and artillery from the hills, westward through the 
town, takirg a number of prisoners, several wagons, 
caissons and limbers. A portion of the skirmish line had 
entered the town, being strongly supported by our lines 
of battle, when a message was received from General 
Sheridan that hostilities would be suspended, as General 
Lee was about to surrender. 

" Although a battle was expected at this point, and 
orders had been carefully given by staff officers for the 
divisions to keep well closed up, through some unaccount- 
able mistake or neglect on the part of the commander of 
the third division, it failed to follow the column, and did 
not move until an officer had been specially despatched for 
it to move up, and did not reach its proper position until 
after hostilities for the day had ceased. 

" In conclusion, to show more concisel}^ the part taken 
in the short campaign by the corps, I would state that our 
killed and wounded amount to, officers, eighteen killed, 
one hundred and three wounded ; enlisted men, two 
hundred and forty-five killed, one thousand five hundred 
and fifty-three wounded — missing, five hundred and forty- 
six. Total, two thousand four hundred and sixty-five. 
The number of prisoners captured was one hundred and 
eighty-seven officers, four thousand two hundred and 
eighty-seven men ; total, four thousand four hundred and 
seventy-four. 

" Too much praise cannot be given both officers and 
men for the cheerfulness exhibited through the long 
marches, and the many privations and hardships that had 
to be endured. 

" I beg to call the especial attention of the major-gen- 
eral commanding to Brevet Major-Generals Ayres and 
Bartlett, and Brigadier-General Chamberlain, for their 



192 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

promptness, efficiency and zealousness in tlie execution 
of all orders. 

" To my staff, both personal and corps, my thanks are 
due for their patience, alacrity and cheerfulness in the 
discharge of all their duties. 

" A list of casualties, numerical and tabular, has already 
been forwarded. « 

*' I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

" Charles Griffin, 
*^ Brevet Major- General Commanding.''^ 



CHAPTER XIY. 

CONCLUSION. 



In the summer of 1865 General Sheridan was placed 
in command of the important department in Texas, bor- 
dering on the lines of Mexico, with his headquarters in 
the city of New Orleans. 

The position of the army of General Sheridan during 
the summer of 1865 is described by a correspondent wri- 
ting from Brownsville, Texas, as follows : 

The '* Army of Observation," ordered to the Kio Grande, 
has reached its destination, and dispositions have been made 
for its present occupancy of the frontier, extending from 
a point a few miles above this place to the island of 
Brazos Santiago. The latter is for the present the base 
of supplies, and is occupied by the third division (recently 
organized) of the twenty-fifth corps. Brevet Brigadier- 
General A. G. Draper commanding. The first division, 
under Brevet Major-General Giles A. Smith, is stationed 
here. The second, commanded by Brevet Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Jackson, is at White Ranch, between this point and 
Brazos. 



LIFE OF major-gp:neral SHERTDAN". 193 

Several changes took place in the army of observation 
during the year. At the time alluded to the chief interest 
clustered around Matamoras. This city is situated upon 
the opposite side of the river from Brownsville, was the 
great depot for cotton upon its arrival within the domain 
of Maximilian ; and its prosperity was increased to an 
almost fabulous extent thereby. But in poor distracted 
Mexico, the prosperity of its people is not the prosperity 
of the State. While the Mexican is inherently patriotic, 
and loves his country, the constant state of insecurity in 
which he lives makes him indifferent to every thing but 
his own immediate success, and the citizen takes no inter- 
est in extending and beautifying his city ; and the agri- 
culturist is content with raising the little necessary for 
the immediate sustenance of himself and family, and cares 
not to improve his land, from which at any moment he 
may be driven forth. As the natural result of this, Mex- 
ican cities are low, mean and dirty, in appearance and in 
fact ; and the greater portion of the farm lands are cov- 
ered with the rank vegetation of the chaparral and the 
prairie. Previous to the close of the war large amounts 
of goods of every description were brought to this city in 
anticipation of its continuance, and in consequence, upon 
the arrival of our troops, the market on the American side 
being closed, the supply far exceeded the demand, and 
goods fell below the wholesale prices in New York. The 
presence of a large body of troops in the vicinity has 
again increased these prices to the old standard, though 
more in consequence of the anticipated market than of] 
present sales. 

The city is occupied at present by about three thousand 
Imperialist troops, some three hundred of whom are Aus- 
trians and the remainder natives. Though thus protected, 
Matamoras is virtually beseiged by three or four hundred 
liberals, said to be commanded by Cortinas. 



194 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

Subsequent to the surrender of Kirby Smith, the rebels 
at this point sold to the imperialists across the river a 
battery of six pieces (which had been in use at this point) 
for seventeen thousand dollars. This fact becoming 
known, their return was demanded by General Steele, 
commanding the troops on the Rio Grande. The ques- 
tion was referred to Maximilian, who directed the demand 
to be complied with, and the guns were brought over and 
parked upon the parade ground near the site of Fort 
Brown at the southern side of Matamoras. 

Reports of the unsettled condition of affairs on the 
frontier were not believed at the headquarters of the em- 
pire, and Senor Portella, one of Maximilian's officials, 
was recently sent to Matamoras to examine and report 
thereon. It is stated, on excellent authority, that in his 
report he declared matters even worse than had been 
represented, and it is anticipated that, as the result of 
his report, a large force will be sent to the frontier. 

The secret police in the various cities of the empire 
are excessively active and vigilant, and any person re- 
porting news unfavorable to the imperialists runs a great 
risk of being arrested, and all parties are extremely reti- 
cent on this account. Merchants and other business men 
in Matamoras, receiving letters from their correspondents 
and agents in the interior, state that little or nothing is 
said in them in reference to political matters, for fear of 
annoyance on the part of the government. 

We cannot make a more fitting close to these authentic 
records of Sheridan, than by inserting the following 
Poem, by George H. Boker, Esq., who has rendered such 
efficient service to the country by his gifted lyre, and by 
his labors as secretary of that eminently patriotic associ- 
ation, the "Philadelphia Union League"; 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN". 196 



CAVALRY SHERIDAN. 

BY GEORGE H. BOKER. 
I. 

Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavalry Sheridan! 
Him of the horses and sabres I sing. 

Look, how he drove them I 

Look, how he clove them ! 
Sabred, belabored, confused and confounded 
The whole rebel rout, as they fell back astounded 

At the fierce stride and swing 

Of our men galloping, 
Shouting with vengeance, roaring with laughter, 
Cheering with victory, as they plunged after 
Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavalry Sheridan I 

IL 

Ah, fair Shenandoah, thou nest of the robber, 
How stands the count with thy people to-day ? 

Where is the fire now, 

Showing thy ire now, 
Blazing, while gazing with fear and amazement, 
As on it crept swiftly from door-post to casement, 

Weeping with pale dismay. 

Stood maids and matrons gray? 

Has it not spread to thy end of the valley ? 

Did it not follow thee in thy grand sally, 

Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavalry Sheridan ? 
12 



196 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 

III. 
Chambersburg, Chambersburg, smouldering Chambers- 
burg I 
Sit in thy ruins, content with thy lot ! 
, Lo, thy despoiler, 

Snared by the toiler, 
Retreated defeated — torn, pierced, slashed with gashes — 
And what thy homes were now their bodies are — ashes ! 
O, be thy griefs forgot ; 
Every bright-laurelled spot 
On thy fair hill-sides wait matron and maiden 
With chaplets of glory, to welcome and laden 
Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavalry Sheridan I 

IV. 
O, Early, mad Early I thou ruthless invader, 
Where are the troopers who followed thy raid ? 

Look at their corses I 

Soldiers and horses 
Whiten and brighten with bones, shining grimly, 
On all the wide plains they rode over so trimly. 

What has the raven said ? 

Where has the red fox preyed ? 
What is the high-sailing buzzard declaring 
In Richmond's white upturned face of thy warfaring, 
Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavalry Sheridan? 

V. 

Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavalry Sheridan, 

When thou shalt come to thy people again, 



LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. 197 

Crowns we shall twine for thee ; 

And the ripe wine for thee, 
Flashing and splashing from goblet and breaker, 
Shall whirl round the lips of the eloquent speaker, 

As he essays in vain 

Homage to make it plain 
How the great heart of the jubilant nation 
Swells toward thj own in its full admiration, 
Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavalry Sheridan I 



THE END 



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